Malawi have been drawn against Madagascar in their opening match of the 2018 CHAN qualifiers have also been placed in Group B of the 2019 AFCON.

They have also been without a coach since September 2016 when Burundian Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan stepped down after just a game.

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The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) have however announced that they won’t be able to participate in the qualification of these two tournaments due to financial constraints.

The association says it has been refused permission by the Malawian government to employ a foreign coach for the national team even after proposing a 50-50 cost sharing.

The negotiations with the government through the Ministry of Sport last for months before the proposal was rejected.

FAM thereafter made the decision to withdraw from the tournaments after an executive committee meeting.

"Having considered all the available options, and in accordance with required notices for withdrawal, it was further resolved that the Malawi National Senior Football team be withdrawn from CHAN Competition by 31st March, and from AFCON by 30th April 2017, due to lack of funding," FAM said in a statement quoted by BBC Sport.

Malawi's withdrawal from both the AFCON and CHAN is expected to attract a hefty fine from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).