WASHINGTON: A Malawian man believed to be the father of a three-year-old girl who Madonna wants to adopt is opposed to the US pop icon's bid, a US television network reported.

"I want to take care of her and I'm capable to take care of my baby," James Kambewa told CBS News.

"Mercy, she is a Malawian -- so I need her to grow as a Malawian, as well with our culture," he said.

Kambewa admitted in the interview that he has never met the girl and has only seen her "in newspapers and TV, not face to face." Last month, a Malawian court turned down Madonna's request to adopt the girl. But she appealed the ruling, and Malawi's Supreme Court will hear the case on Monday.

Madonna's Malawian lawyer, Alan Chinula, says the singer, who already adopted Malawian toddler David Banda three years ago, will give Chifundo Mercy James a "good life".

But foreigners seeking to adopt in Malawi must be resident in the southern African nation for at least 18 months -- a requirement the lower court judge said was a "bedrock" of adoption petitions.

The interview will be broadcast on CBS's "Early Show" starting Monday. But excerpts from it were released Saturday.