Several key figures in Malawi football have asked Football Association of Malawi (FAM) not to extend the contract of Malawi national football team coach Mario Mariani Marinica beyond it’s expiry date this April.

Opinion on the suitability of Marinica as coach for the Flames has been divided since his appointment, but following the national team’s humiliating defeat to Egypt on Tuesday many stakeholders in the game want the Romanian to be replaced.

General Secretary for National Coaches Association (NCA) Davie Mpima, said Marinica has failed as coach for the Flames.

"I don't remember the last time the Malawi was humiliated in such a way,” Mpina said.

The NCA GS said the results shows that the coach is failing to build a winning team as such the right thing to do was for FAM not to extend Marinica’s contract.

“If they don't have his replacement at the moment, then we form a caretaker coaching panel," he said.

Football analysts, Higger Mkandawire and Kimu Kamawu are also of the views that the Romanian tactician should be let go.

The two analysts said apart from failing to produce results, the style of play Marinica has introduced is both unattractive and unsuitable to Malawi players.

Marinica was employed as Technical Director for Malawi football in 2021 before he was surprisingly switched to the position of Flames head coach in 2022, sidestepping Meck Mwase who had guided the team to the AFCON finals in 2022.