Malawi national football team’s interim coach Eddington Ng’onamo has named a provisional 35-member squad comprising veteran striker Esau Kanyenda.

Kanyenda, who plays for Polokwane City in South Africa First Division, returns ahead of the May 25 friendly match against Zimbabwe at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

There are six South Africa based players in the squad including Atusaye Nyondo (Supersport United), Peter Wadabwa (Thanda Royal Zulu), Limbikani Mzava (Bloemfontein Celtic) Platinum Stars’ Robert Ng’ambi and Harry Nyirenda of Black Leopards.

Malawi striker Gabadinho Mhango has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Kenya - because he has to take his school exams.

The 19-year-old will be sitting his Junior Certificate Examinations (JSE) in June so is unavailable for the home home ties against Namibia on the fifth of the month and against Kenya a week later in Blantyre.

In March, Mhango passed a football test with flying colours when he scored the winner as The Flames beat Namibia 1-0 in Windhoek in a World Cup qualifier.

And he is currently enjoying top form, having scored two goals in Big Bullet's two opening games of the new league season.

Host Zambia face Mozambique in Cosafa Cup quarterfinals while Bafana Bafana must wait to know their Last 8 opponents from Group A.

Mozambique, Bafana Bafana, Malawi, Angola, hosts Zambia and defending champions Zimbabwe all enjoy byes from the group stage and will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage.

Zambia will face Mozambique on July 14 in the fourth quarterfinal match in Kabwe following tournament draws made on May 3 in Lusaka.

Bafana will face winner from Group A on July 13 in Lusaka that contains Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles and guest team from the Cecafa zone, Tanzania.

Bafana Bafana, Angola, champions Zimbabwe and hosts Zambia seeded and on first round byes in the May 3 COSAFA Cup draws.

And CECAFA zone nations Tanzania and Kenya have been invited to take part in this year’s COSAFA Cup to be held in Zambia from July 6-21.

According to Cosafa, Zambia, Bafana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique will all enjoy group stage byes and join the competition in the quarterfinals on July 13 thanks to their FIFA rankings as of April 11, 2013.

Meanwhile, guest teams Tanzania and Kenya are the seeded teams in the group draws.

Eight teams will go into Fridays two group draws for preliminary round matches to be played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka and Godfrey 'Ucar' Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe.

Fifa has given Malawi the all-clear to play their forthcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Kenya back at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) were given the go ahead to use the venue by Fifa following a visit by an inspection team last week.

The government closed the stadium last August due safety and security fears.

Repairs have since been carried out at the stadium and it has hosted several club matches.

Malawi's interim coach Edington Ng'onamo had suggested that Fam ask Fifa if the Kamuzu Stadium could be re-opened for international games.

With the Cosafa Senior Challenge coming back to action in July in Zambia the participating countries have confirmed that they will take part.

Cosafa has 14 members and they have all confirmed that they will travel to the 2012 Afcon Champions for the tournament.

The Cosafa Senior Challenge tournament has not been played in the past three years and Zambia will host the tournament in two areas, Lusaka and the Copperbelt from July 6-21, 2013.

A Cosafa delegation, led by COO Sue Destombes, was in Zambia last week to inspect facilities ahead of the competition. Cosafa approved Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka and Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola as the two host stadia for the tournament.

Several of the favourites in Africa’s qualifiers for the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil struggled on the third matchday of the group stage, now at the half-way point.

Morocco's loss in Tanzania was the biggest surprise, while 2012 African champions Zambia were held to a draw in Lesotho and Senegal and new African kings Nigeria were held at home. As only the ten group winners advance to the final round of qualifying, the dropped points will undoubtedly increase the pressure and the chances of a major shock moving forward.

The Super Eagles were expected to enjoy a bit of a walk in the park at home against their East African opponents, however, it turned out to be anything but as 20-year-old Kahata gave the visitors the lead when he scored direct from a free-kick.

Namibia’s chances of qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup were dealt a serious blow when they lost 1-0 to Malawi in Windhoek on Saturday.

Substitute Gabadhini Mhango scored the winning goal midway through the second half when he fired home a cross by Fisher Kondowe after a quick counterattack.

It was a poor performance by the Brave Warriors who looked disjointed and out of sorts, while chances were few and far between.

Namibia started on the ascendancy but Malawi had the first real chance when Fisher Kondowe beat Jamu Ngatjizeko in the box but shot narrowly wide.

African champions Nigeria can take complete command of Group F with a win at home to Kenya on Saturday in the second round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

The Super Eagles lead the way in their group on four points from two games and are 33 places higher than Kenya in the Confederation of African Football rankings.

Nigeria also have home advantage and there is a three-point gap between the teams.

The Super Eagles beat Namibia at home and held Malawi away last June, while the Harambee Stars secured only one after a home draw against Malawi and a loss in Namibia.

Sensational Gabadinho Mhango was named the TNM Super League’s Player of the Year 2012/13 while Silver Strikers were officially crowned champions on Friday in Lilongwe.

The 20-year-old striker for Big Bullets won the award in absentia during an awards ceremony held at the Bingu International Conference Centre to pocket a cool K120 000 and a miniature trophy.

Mhango’s Bullets team mate Owen Chaima scooped the goalkeeper of the year award. Bullets also received recognition for having the best technical panel.

Micium Mhone from Blue Eagles was voted the most improved player, Vincent Chinthenga clinched the Golden Boot Award with 18 goals while Kelvin Malikebu from Kamuzu Barracks was named the best midfielder.