Gabadinho Mhango: Swallows star misses World Cup qualifier

Moroka Swallows star Gabadinho Mhango has been ruled out of Malawi’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Liberia after missing a flight. Mhango confirmed to The Daily Times newspaper of Malawi that he misjudged his flight schedule at O.R Tambo International Airport. The striker will, therefore, miss Malawi Flames’ 2026 World Cup qualifier scheduled for November 17 2023 in Liberia.

“Indeed, I missed the flight on Sunday,” Mhango told the newspaper. “At first, I thought my flight was for 1:00pm but when I arrived at the airport, I was told the flight was for 11:00am.”

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HOW ON EARTH DID GABADINHO MHANGO MISS A FLIGHT?

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The Nation newspaper of Malawi further quoted the former Orlando Pirates’ target-man as explaining why he missed the plane. “I think the confusion came about because of my tight schedule. I was with my team in Polokwane the previous day [Saturday] where we had a match,” Mhango told the newspaper.

The former Bidvest Wits player was supposed to join the rest of Malawi’s Flames’ squad in Ethiopia. The squad was en route to Liberia. Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu tried to have the association book Mhango for the next available flight. However, the Flames coach, Patrick Mabedi, stopped that arrangement. The Nation newspaper reports that the Kaizer Chiefs legend Mabedi insisted on working with the current 23-member squad he has travelled with to Liberia.

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“Yes, I had intervened on the matter so that Gaba could join the squad, but the coach has said Gaba cannot join the squad now. He feels that this will affect team spirit in camp,” Nyamilandu is quoted saying. Interestingly, while the former AmaZulu attacker misjudged his flight schedule, his counterpart, Black Leopards goalkeeper Brighton Munthali made it. Munthali flew out to Ethiopia successfully on November 14 2023.

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The former Amakhosi mentor Mabedi had dropped Mhango from the previous Flames’ squads for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers and the 2023 Cosafa Cup. However, with Zambia-based striker Chawanangwa Kaonga injured, Mabedi was compelled to recall the Swallows striker. Mhango signed for Swallows this season after being released by AmaZulu.

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HOW HAS GABADINHO MHANGO STARTED LIFE AT SWALLOWS?

The ex-Bloemfontein Celtic leading scorer has made a relatively impressive start to his career at Swallows. He has scored three goals in 10 games, including seven starts.

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Mhango is the Flames’ poster boy. He starred for the Flames at the delayed 2021 AFCON finals held in Cameroon last year. The 30-year-old finished as the tournament’s third-leading scorer with three goals in four matches. Mhango’s goal in the 2-1 loss for Malawi to Morocco was nominated for the 2022 CAF Goal of the Year Award. However, the ultimate award went to Tanzania’s Simba SC player, Pape Sakho.