'He Let Malawi Down' - Why Mhango Is Now Barred

Former Kaizer Chiefs captain, currently head coach of the Malawi national team, Patrick Mabedi, has barred Moroka Swallows forward Gabadinho Mhango from joining the Flames squad currently on duty, for disciplinary reasons.

Mhango was named in the Malawi squad that will play against Liberia and Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 17 and 21 November respectively.

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The former Orlando Pirates striker was instructed by the Football Association of Malawi to catch a flight from Johannesburg to the capital city, Lilongwe to join the rest of his national teammates, before they all jet out to Liberia.

However, the 31-year-old missed his flight to his country and efforts were reportedly made by FAM to re-arrange for Mhango to fly directly to Monrovia on Tuesday but Mabedi refused.

According to the former Amakhosi captain, who spoke to the Siya crew, he has decided to exclude the Birds striker from the current national team camp for disciplinary reasons, after Mhango also did not comply with instructions from the technical team to do a recovery session and send it to their physical trainer.

"He was invited to join the team here on Sunday and he went late to the airport and he missed his flight," Mabedi told the Siya crew.

"And he was asked by the technical team to do some recovery sessions and send (them) to our physical trainer but he never did, yet his game was played on Saturday," the former Chiefs coach revealed.

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However, the door is not closed on Mhango regarding his future with the Flames, as Mabedi explained that the diminutive striker will be welcomed back if he obeys the technical team's rules and apologises to Malawians.

"If he obeys the technical team rules yes (he will be welcomed back) and apologise to the technical team and to the Malawians. He let the country down," he added.

Mhango was not in the club squad in Swallows' goalless draw against Polokwane City on Saturday and last featured in a match on 8 November, off the bench in a narrow 1-0 win over TS Galaxy in the league.