Malawi Flames have pulled out of the 2024 CHAN tournament due to financial constraints.

The country’s football association, FAM, announced the news in a statement on Wednesday.

The association has a stretched budget due to a congested international fixture schedule.

The statement reads:

FAM regrets to advise that it has not registered the Malawi Men’s National Football team, The Flames  in the 2024  TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), whose qualifiers  start next month due to financial constraints.

The program of our various national teams is crammed due to a series of international tournaments that will see the Flames participating in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and fulfilling its last 2023 AFCON qualifier against Guinea next month.

In addition, the Women’s National team is also expected to participate in the COSAFA Women’s Championship in September, yet we do not have any secure funding for this program.

As a result, we have decided to forego the CHAN tournament in order to manage the financial pressure that has taken its toll.