Flames out to frustrate Cameroon
Flames coach Meck Mwase says although they are out of contention, they will fight every inch of the way when they host Cameroon at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa this afternoon.
In an interview on Thursday, Mwase also said they have nothing to lose and finishing third in such a tough group would be a solace for their failure to qualify.
He said: “In less than two months time, we will be participating at the [2022] Africa Cup of Nations and the remaining qualifiers provide us an opportunity to prepare for the tournament.
taking it seriously
“So, we are also going to try all the players as part of the preparations for Cameroon 2022.”
Mwase said preparations have gone on well and the players
are looking forward to the match.
On his part, Flames captain Limbikani Mzava said: “We know we are out of contention, but we are going to fight to the very end. We are looking forward to winning the game.”
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions say they are taking this afternoon’s 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifier against the Flames as a final because any slip will halt their eighth global showpiece qualification hopes.
Mwase will bank his hopes on South Africa-based forwards Khuda Muyaba and Richard Mbulu, the only ones who have scored for the Flames in this campaign.
On song Chimwemwe Idana and Mozambique-based John ‘CJ’ Banda are tipped to mesh in central midfield with the latter playing an attacking role while Tanzania-based Peter Banda and Yamikani Chester will orchestrate play from the wings.
Mzava will marshal the defence alongside Charles Petro, Stanley Sanudi and Francis Mulimbika.
On the other hand, Cameroon coach Antonio Canceicao said they are taking the match as “cup final”.
He was quoted by goal.com as having said: “All I ask the players is to focus on the Malawi game. We have to win this first final and then we will switch focus to the one against Ivory Coast because if we fail to win against Malawi and Ivory Coast win against Mozambique [today] then that will be it.
“All the players are focused on the objectives we want to achieve and that, for me, is the most important thing.”
Germany-based Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar carry the hopes for the Indomitable Lions.
The Elephants of Ivory Coast lead Group D with 10 points with Cameroon breathing down their neck with nine points.
The Flames are third with three points while Mozambique’s Mambas anchor the four-team group with a point.
Cameroon beat Malawi 2-0 in the first leg in Yaounde in September.
Statistically, the odds favour Cameroon as the two teams have met five times with the Indomitable Lions winning three while the rest ended in draws.
In their last 10 matches, the Flames have won three, by 1-0 margins, lost five and drawn two while Cameroon have won six, drawn twice and lost twice as well.
Ironically, Cameroon are chasing their eighth global showpiece qualification, the highest by an African team, while Malawi have never qualified for the World Cup.
