The squad was due to leave for Blantyre on Thursday but stayed in
Harare after the players refused to travel, citing concerns that they
would not receive match fees from the cash-strapped Zimbabwe Football
Association (ZIFA).
Magaya, who also paid $50,000 last month for
the team to take part in the regional Cosafa Cup, moved in again to
cover the $42,000 needed to cover the trip to Malawi.
"I felt that
it was important that I help the team so that they travel to Malawi
because the African Cup of Nations is a very important tournament and we
can't be seen, as a nation, failing to play in such a tournament,"
Magaya told Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper.
"The players and their
coach really want to play against Malawi and there were issues over
money and what I have done is that I have told the players that we will
pay them their dues and they now need to go out there and fly our
national flag high in this important tournament."
Magaya, the
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader, is a fervent
football fan and one of the most influential individuals within Zimbabwe
football, although he holds no office at ZIFA.
Zimbabwe have been
banned by FIFA from taking part in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers over
an $81,000 unpaid debt to their former Brazilian coach Valinhos dating
back to 2008.
ZIFA CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze has said the debt
will be settled this month before the ruling body petitions FIFA to be
allowed back into the qualifiers.
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