Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has terminated the contract of Flames Coach, Patrick Mabedi, with immediate effect.
In a statement, FAM said the decision follows resolutions made during an Emergency Committee meeting held on 28th October 2024. The move was based on recommendations from the Technical Committee, following the team’s poor performance and failure to qualify for the 2025 Total Energies AFCON.
Meanwhile, FAM’s Communications Department has revealed that FAM will be putting together a temporary technical panel that will lead the team into the next assignments until a substantive replacement is identified.
Mabedi’s time as Malawi coach has been a rollercoaster of mixed results, marred by inconsistency and struggles in high-profile matches.
His controversial decision to frequently sideline Malawi’s top scorer, Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, drew criticism.
While the Flames saw some positive results, including a 3-1 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe and a hard-fought 1-0 win against Liberia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they also struggled against tougher opponents.
Notable wins during his tenure include victories in the COSAFA Cup against Comoros (2-0) and Seychelles (2-0).
However, heavy losses to Senegal (0-4), Burkina Faso (1-3), and Kenya (0-4) displayed the team’s struggles against stronger opposition.
Late goals and defensive frailties, especially from set-pieces, contributed to defeats, such as the 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea (81st minute) and the 1-0 defeat to Tunisia (87th-minute penalty).
Key Stats:
Wins (5):
– Malawi 3-1 São Tomé and Príncipe (10 June 2024)
– Malawi 2-0 Comoros (9 July 2023)
– Malawi 2-0 Seychelles (6 July 2023)
– Malawi 1-0 Liberia (9 September 2023)
– Malawi 1-0 Zambia (20 June 2023)
Draws (3):
– Malawi 2-2 Guinea (16 July 2023)
– Malawi 0-0 Ethiopia (14 June 2023)
– Malawi 1-1 Mozambique (Africa Games, 2023)
Losses (10):
– Malawi 0-1 Senegal (11 October 2024)
– Senegal 4-0 Malawi (10 September 2024)
– Burkina Faso 3-1 Malawi (5 September 2024)
– Malawi 2-3 Burundi (5 June 2024)
– Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Malawi (10 June 2024)
– Zambia 2-1 Malawi (23 March 2024)
– Malawi 0-4 Kenya (21 November 2023)
– Malawi 0-1 Tunisia (17 November 2023)
– Malawi 0-0 South Africa (lost 5-3 on penalties) (14 July 2023)
– Malawi 1-1 Lesotho (lost on penalties) (11 July 2023)
Appointed as caretaker in April 2023, Mabedi replaced Mario Marinica and was confirmed as head coach in September 2023 after serving as Malawi Under-20 coach since 2020.
He had also been an assistant to former coach Eddington Ng’onamo in 2013.
