Gaba first Malawian to grab brace at Afcon
Orlando Pirates and Flames striker Frank Gabadinho Mhango will go down in history as the first Malawian to score a brace at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
The striker inspired the Flames to a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe’s Warriors, scoring in each half to revive Malawi’s hopes of making it to last 16.
The first one was a simple tap- in from close range, thanks to a Francisco Madinga cross which cancelled Warriors’ Ishmael Wadi opener.
The winner was a solo effort as the striker’s predatory instinct allowed him to overtake a Warriors defender and snatch the ball before scoring.
Mhango said in an interview that he was thrilled to be the only Flames player to score a brace at Afcon finals.
He said: “It’s history. I thank my teammates and God for the gift of talent. Personally, it’s great achievement to come to a tournament like this and score two goals in one game.”
The brace also handed Malawi their second Afcon finals victory, the other coming in 2010 when the Flames beat Algeria 3-0.
Mhango, who was named man-of-the-match, said the Flames can achieve even more at the tournament.
He said: “There is more talent in the Malawi squad and I believe there is more that we can achieve as a team and as individual players.”
Mhango’s superb performance at Afcon comes against the background of poor form at both his club and the national team.
He was dropped by coach Meck Mwase in the Flames last the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Mozambiuque.
The striker said he was glad to have turned a corner, especially at Afcon.
“2021 was not a good year in terms of my performance. But I’m glad that I have pulled up my socks,” he said.
The former Nyasa Big Bullets striker missed the opening match against Guinea which Malawi lost 1-0, after testing positive for Covid-19 alongside other senior players.
“It was painful watching the game because it was an easy one which we could have won or drawn. But that’s football,” he said.
Coach Meck Mwase, who was in charge of the two games in the absence of head of technical panel Mario Marian Marinica after he tested positive for Covid, praised the players’ reaction.
He said: “Playing very well in our first game, missing those chances, then meeting a very strong team like Zimbabwe and then winning, I am very happy.
“Before the game, we explained to the boys that it was going to be very tough. Even after conceding, we continued working hard.”
Malawi, who are third in the group with three points, face leaders Senegal who have four points in the last Group B match on Tuesday while second-placed Guinea who have four points, play group anchors Zimbabwe, who are pointless.
A win for Malawi will automatically seal the Flames qualification to the knockout stage.
“We said we want to qualify to the knockout stage. We have Senegal to play. We know they are a strong team. But we don’t fear them,” said Mwase.
