By Ameenu Shardow
Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri has been forced to leave out captain Peter Mponda for next month’s 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Ghana.
The 30-year-old has failed to recover in time from a knee injury to face the Black Stars for the ultimate qualifier for the finals to be hosted by South Africa.
Phiri also dropped strikers; Russel Mwafulirwa and Esau Kanyenda who are all nursing various degrees of injuries.
The trio exclusion from the Flames’ provisional squad released on Monday raises several concerns of their preparedness to face the four-time African champions.
The team that is already in camp ahead of next month’s crucial tie will hold a two-day training camp in Liberia from September 3 before traveling to Accra for the first leg encounter on on September 8.