BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has announced that supporters who bought tickets for the cancelled FIFA World Cup qualifier between Malawi and Equatorial Guinea will finally receive refunds, bringing closure to a saga that left many football fans frustrated and disappointed.
FAM said it had resolved to reimburse ticket holders for the match that was scheduled to take place at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on October 19, 2025.
The highly anticipated qualifier never took place after Equatorial Guinea informed both FAM and FIFA just five hours before kick off that the team would not travel to Malawi, forcing the cancellation of the fixture at the last minute.
The sudden development left thousands of supporters stranded after many had already travelled from different parts of the country to watch the Flames in action, creating one of the most disappointing moments in Malawi’s recent football history.
Following the cancellation, FAM explored several options aimed at reducing the inconvenience suffered by supporters while ensuring that fans continued to participate in football activities under its management.
As part of those measures, ticket holders were initially given an opportunity to use their tickets for other FAM organised events, a move the association said was intended to preserve the value of the purchased tickets.
However, after conducting a further internal review, the association has now decided to offer direct refunds to holders of unredeemed tickets for the cancelled encounter.
According to FAM, supporters who purchased tickets online will receive their refunds directly through the mobile wallets that were used during the purchase process.
For those who bought physical tickets, the association has advised them to visit FAM offices at Bingu National Stadium between June 2 and June 4, 2026, where ticket validation will be conducted before refunds are processed.
The football governing body has also provided an alternative option for supporters who may choose not to claim refunds, allowing them to use their tickets for the Flames’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches scheduled for September 2026.
Sports analyst Enock Banda has welcomed FAM’s decision to refund ticket holders, describing it as a positive move for supporters. He also called on the association to introduce an electronic ticketing system, arguing that it would make the refund process easier and more efficient whenever matches are disrupted or cancelled.
