Malawi: FAM Denies Scorchers Were 'Abandoned' After Airport Transport Row

What the report says

The Football Association of Malawi has rejected claims that it left members of the women’s national football team, the Scorchers, without help after images circulated on social media showing players waiting for transport. In a statement reported by Nyasa Times and distributed by AllAfrica, FAM said it had already arranged transport for the team when they arrived at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and Bakili Muluzi International Airport in Blantyre.

According to the association, some players chose to get off at agreed stages and make their own way home from there. FAM said this meant the players had not been abandoned and that transport had been provided for their safe movement from the airports. The organization also said it remained committed to player welfare, safety and broader stakeholder support under its Football Transformation Agenda.

The report did not specify how many players were involved, where the photos were taken, or which exact stages were used for drop-offs. It also did not state where the Scorchers were returning from, although the article noted the squad had been in Harare for the second leg of an Olympic qualifier against Zimbabwe. The dispute matters because it highlights public scrutiny of how national sports bodies handle travel and player care.