Madonna faces a further wait to find out whether she can adopt a second child from the African country of Malawi after a local court adjourned her appeal hearing.

The singer launched an appeal last month after she was told she would not be allowed to adopt three-year-old Chifundo 'Mercy' James from a local orphanage.

Madonna, who adopted baby David Banda from the country in 2006, did not attend the hearing over the weekend.

The three judges at Malawi's Supreme have yet to schedule a date for another hearing.

The adjournment coincided with the revelation that a man claiming to be Mercy's father has launched a bid to stop Madonna's adoption.

Twenty-four year old James Kambewa said on US television that he wanted to take care of the child.