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Cool flames Blown out

 

Malawi national football team’s dreams of qualifying for Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) have been shattered with a 2-1 loss to Comoros yesterday in Moroni after Morocco beat Cameroon on Friday.

The Flames had their destiny in their hands after losing two games and drawing in the last three games of group A.

Patrick Phiri (R) in action against Cameroon scored Malawi’s goal

The predominantly local-based squad were underdogs going into the match as their away record has been far from convincing.

The hosts, who lost in the first leg to Malawi 1-0, ambushed the visitors with a goal scored barely two minutes into the second half.

Nyasa Bullets up-and-coming striker Patrick Phiri put back the Flames back into the game after scoring in the 67th minute after coming in as substitute for Gastin Simkonda.

But before the euphoria had died down, the hosts restored the lead in the 70th minute through Nasser Chamed from the first corner kick of the game to pile more pressure on the Flames.

In a post-match interview with Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Competitions and Media director Gomegzani Zakazaka, Flames coach RVG described the result as painful after conceding what he termed give away goals from set pieces.

“First of all I am very disappointed with the result that’s for sure. We had chosen for an offensive game plan because we had to win that game because Morocco had beaten Cameroon yesterday [Friday],” he said.

He added: “I think everybody was well prepared but unfortunately it was the same as in Morocco that we lost the ball too easily, a few seconds we had the ball possession in the midfield just as it was the case in Morocco.”

RVG also did not spare his players for failing to match their brilliant performance with results.

“We failed open chances in the six-yard box. We must say very honestly that we created chances, but we must be killers in the box.  We gave away the goals very easily to let them scoring the second goal in the first corner kick. Individual mistakes in the defence cost us a lot.”

With the loss Comoros have displaced the Flames on position three with five points, Morocco have qualified with 10 points while the 2019 Afcon hosts Cameroon are second with eight points.

Malawi will just play their game against Morocco for academic reasons in March next year as any result will not change anything. n

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