By Aubrey Sumbuleta BBC Sport, Blantyre

Mponda will miss the game against Nigeria

Peter Mponda and Macdonald Yobe will not be in Malawi's squad for the Nations Cup qualifying match against Nigeria in June.

The duo, who play for Canadian club Ottawa Wizards, will not be allowed to return to the country, following a travel ban on persons based in the north American country.

Canada is one of the countries that have been adversely affected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Malawi's government imposed a ban on travellers from the countries affected by Sars.

FA chairman John Zingale told BBC Sport that the government's ban left them with no option but to drop the two players.

"Mponda and Yobe are key players for us but we have to follow the orders given by the government," he said.

Both players were in the squad that lost 0-1 to Nigeria in a Nations Cup qualifier in Blantyre.

Meanwhile, an international friendly match between Malawi's women football team and their Chinese counterparts has also been postponed as a result of Sars.