Zebron Kalima ruled out of Cosafa as Washali excuses himself from squad

Zebron Kalima ruled out of Cosafa as Washali excuses himself

Silver Strikers’ forward, Zebron Kalima has been ruled out of the 2025 Cosafa Cup tournament due to injury, the Football Association of Malawi has announced.

Kalima was part of the 24-man squad that Head Coach, Kalisto Pasuwa released but the Association has communicated that Kalima is nursing an injury hence has been ruled out of the tournament.

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Meanwhile, Japan-based defender, Washali Jaziya has excused himself from the squad hence he will not be part of the team that is expected to travel to South Africa on Wednesday.

FAM said part from the two, all players that Pasuwa invited for camping have been training at Mpira Village ahead of the developmental tournament.

“The Flames held their second training session on Tuesday morning at Mpira Stadium. All players called up by Head Coach Kalisto Pasuwa reported for duty except Silver Strikers midfielder Zebron Kalima, who is out due to injury, and defender Washali Jaziya, who asked to be excused.

“The team is expected to depart for Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Wednesday via Chileka International Airport for the 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup,” announces the Association’s Media department.

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.