From Wanderers suspension to Malawi U23 job

Bob Mpinganjira’s football fortunes have taken a dramatic turn, going from being suspended by Mighty Wanderers to landing a national team coaching job within hours.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has appointed Mpinganjira as the new coach of the Malawi Under-23 national team, handing him the task of leading the side in the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The appointment comes barely hours after Wanderers announced the immediate suspension of Mpinganjira following their 2-1 Airtel Top 8 final defeat to sister club Ekhaya FC at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday.

Mpinganjira’s new assignment will begin with a first-round clash against Eswatini.

Malawi must overcome Eswatini to reach the second round, where Algeria awaits.

The former Malawi coach will therefore have little time to dwell on the Wanderers setback, as attention now shifts to assembling and preparing an Under-23 squad capable of surviving the qualifying campaign.

His appointment also adds another twist to a turbulent period for Mpinganjira, who earlier this year travelled to Scotland for a three-week study tour with Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle FC.

The tour was intended to expose him to new coaching methods and broaden his tactical understanding.

Now, after his abrupt exit from the Wanderers technical setup, Mpinganjira has been handed a fresh opportunity at national level.