SULOM postpones Super League Week 10 fixtures to pave way for COSAFA Cup

The TNM Super League will take a brief pause to accommodate Malawi’s participation in the 2025 COSAFA Cup, which kicks off this week in South Africa.

The Super League of Malawi (SULOM) announced on Tuesday that all Week 10 fixtures will be postponed to allow space for the Flames’ international engagement during the FIFA window. Malawi’s national team departs for South Africa today ahead of their Group B opener against Lesotho on June 5.

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In an official statement, SULOM confirmed the domestic league will resume immediately after the COSAFA tournament concludes.

“The Super League of Malawi (SULOM) wishes to inform clubs and all stakeholders that there will be no league matches scheduled for Week 10 due to the FIFA International Break and national team engagements,” reads the statement.

“Games shall resume immediately after this international break. An updated fixture schedule will be communicated in due course.”

Malawi will be hoping to make history at this year’s COSAFA Cup, having never reached the final since the tournament’s inception. Their best performance remains a runner-up finish in 2003.

This year, the Flames will play all their group stage matches at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. After their opening game against Lesotho on June 5, they will face Namibia on June 8 before concluding the group phase against Angola on June 10. All matches are scheduled to kick off at 15:00 CAT.

According to COSAFA’s released schedule:

June 5: Malawi vs Lesotho

June 8: Malawi vs Namibia

June 10: Malawi vs Angola

The top team in Group B will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of Group C — which comprises Morocco, Madagascar, and Eswatini. Semifinals will be played on June 13, followed by the third-place playoff and final on June 15 at 15:00 CAT.

“The group stage will be played up until June 11, with the semifinals on June 13. The winner of Group A will face the top side in Group D, while the winner of Group B will take on the leading side in Group C,” reads a COSAFA statement.

Malawi last featured in the COSAFA Cup in 2023, where they reached the semifinals but lost to Lesotho on penalties. They then fell short again in the third-place playoff against South Africa, also on penalties. The Flames missed the 2024 edition due to national mourning following the tragic death of State Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.

The 2025 edition offers a new opportunity for the Flames to restore pride and possibly go all the way. With the core of the squad built around top-performing players from the TNM Super League, expectations are high.

As the league pauses, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets remain top of the table with 18 points from 7 games, despite suffering a 1-0 defeat in the Blantyre Derby, courtesy of a goal from Mighty Wanderers’ forward Blessings Mwalilino. Wanderers trail closely in second with 16 points from 6 matches, and both sides are setting the pace in what is shaping up to be an intense title race.