That said I think playing friendly games against teams that have already been knocked out will not make up for true preparation matches. For example, Senegal are already out and I don’t think they would field their regular players if you were to play a friendly against them.

The Football Association of Malawi and the National Team Coaching Staff will need to be daring and professional in selecting the right mix of opponents over the next 5-6 months. While there is no magical number for friendly games, 7 to 10 carefully selected friendly matches following the group announcements seem to be in line with what the rest of the World has been doing. Well, in line with the rest of the football world but apparently Malawi! Not because they don’t want to but because of Lack of Funds. Now just imagine where they would be if they had all the resources that teams like South Africa, Egypt etc have.

Yes, friendly matches are of utmost importance. In the 12 months leading to the 2002 World Cup, Korea played in 21 friendly and friendly tournament matches and prepared ‘herself’ very well for the world cup. Korea played a brave and aggressive schedule and saw the fruits of her efforts in the summer of 2002.

You reap what you sow.

I think Malawi’s friendly matches should involve one of the following: Togo, Mali, Senegal and Benin, Gambia, Cape Verde, Niger and Mauritania. These teams are from same region as Cote D’ Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Guinea.