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Flames lose to Mali, anchor Group B of 2015 Afcon

For the umpteenth time, the Flames last night failed to exorcise the ghost that has seen them struggle in away matches when they went down 2-0 to 10-man Mali’s Eagles at Stade Du 26 Mars in Bamako.

The Flames were shattered cruelly and clinically by two second-half strikes as the danced to the Eagles’ tune in front of an estimated 45 000 turnout.

Flashback: Mali’s captain Seydou Keita (L) is challenged by Dave Banda in an earlier 2010 Afcon meeting in Angola
Flashback: Mali’s captain Seydou Keita (L) is challenged by Dave Banda in an earlier
2010 Afcon meeting in Angola

The loss leaves the Flames anchoring Group B of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after the first-round of matches.

England-based midfielder Bakary Sako, who turns out for Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, struck the first in the 53rd minute following an error of judgement by Flames right back Limbikani Mzava before Mamadou Diakate claimed the second in the third minute of injury time.

In a match monitored on Matindi Radio Station, after a slow start, the hosts shrugged the early lethargy and soon the collective heart was beating loudly as they forced the Flames into rearguard action and had it not been for goalkeeper McDonald Harawa’s daring saves, the margin could have been wide.

Nevertheless, the Flames showed some flashes of individual brilliance through experienced midfielders Joseph Kamwendo and Robert Ng’ambi, but it was not enough and the Flames could not just handle the weight of expectation, they just couldn’t stand the Bamako heat.

On 20 minutes, Ng’ambi found the target through a glancing header, but one of the assistant referee’s flag was already up, then burly forward Chiukepo Msowoya missed from close range.

In the second half, Mali surged forward with swashbuckling verve and it came as no surprise when they drew first blood through Sako as it was evident that the Flames were gasping for air and just couldn’t cope.

In a desperate move to turn things around, coach Young Chimodzi threw in strikers Atusaye Nyondo and Gabadinho Mhango—who surprisingly were left on the bench—for Mzava and Chiukepo respectively, but the damage had already been done.

Mali were dealt a blow as the match progressed when their France-based goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa was shown the red card for remonstrating after being cautioned for handling the ball outside his area in an attempt to prevent danger.

But instead of taking advantage of the situation, it was the Flames who were under pressure and when Diakate scored the second, it just added salt to injury for the Flames.

The Flames are expected to return home today ahead of their second match against Ethiopia on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Ethiopia also lost their opening match to Algeria’s Desert Foxes 2-1.

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