By Aubrey Sumbuleta BBC Sport, Blantyre

Ziese has been under fire for his statements in the local media

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has warned national coach Burkhard Ziese that he will be sacked if results do not improve within two months.

FAM president Walter Nyamirandu Manda said Malawi's results in their opening 2008 Nations Cup qualifying games against Morocco and Zimbabwe will determine the German's fate.

"During his two-year term, the only important international competition will be the 2008 Nations Cup finals in Ghana," he told BBC Sport.

"If we lose to Morocco and Zimbabwe it means we will be out [of the race for the 2008 Nations Cup finals]. So why should we keep him if this happens?"

Manda did not hide his dissatisfaction with the results of the national team under the former Ghana coach, who took charge of Malawi last year.

"We lost in the regional Cosafa tournament. This is a preparatory ground for big international competitions but we are losing miserably.

"So do we say we are making any progress with this coach?"

Ziese has had a strained relationship with FAM, after he criticised their management style in the media.

Sports minister Jaffalie Mussa has also been displeased with Ziese public statements and warned FAM to rein in the coach.

"Let FAM make a final decision on the coach or I will be forced to act," Mussa said.

Ziese is currently out of the country and is said to be attending to family matters in Germany.

Meanwhile, the national team is expected to leave for a two-week training tour of Denmark next Tuesday.