Malawians in diaspora give cash reward to footballers

A group of Malawians living in the US have given a cash reward to footballers who represented the country in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) games in Cameroon.

This is after the team reached the knock-out phase of the tournament for the first time.

The country's football association said it had received 2.8m Malawian kwacha ($154,000; £114,000) from a group of football-loving Malawians.

"Each player pocketed K95,000 while the team’s equipment manager and security officer got K70,000 each," read a statement from the association.

The Malawians in the diaspora raised the money through a WhatsApp group.

Group chairman Tonny Chirwa said they had given the players the money as a token of appreciation for a job well done and as motivation for them to continue working hard and aiming high.

President Lazarus Chakwera had also the footballers a cash reward if they got a "desired result" in their game against Senegal and proceeded to the round of 16.

Malawi achieved a goalless draw in their game with Senegal and proceeded to the round of 16 where they lost to Morocco.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Football Association Malawi