Flames among 6 teams that didn’t concede at home

The Flames stand proudly among six teams that did not concede a goal at home out of 48 during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a feat that was not achieved by any other team in the Cosafa bloc.

The statistics are proof that Malawi, who sealed their qualification with a 1-0 win over Uganda Cranes last Monday, made good use of home ground advantage.

The others are Uganda Cranes, who were in the same group with Malawi, Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea and Congo Brazaville.

Malawi are also among the 28 teams that did not lose at home.

The Flames dropped only two points at home when they were held to a goalless draw by group winners Burkina Faso’s Stallions.

But they dropped six points on the road, having lost to Uganda and Burkina Faso.

Former champions Tunisia emerged the best out of the 48 teams that started the group phase, collecting 16 points out of a possible 18 and winning Group J at a canter.

Commenting on the statistics,  Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu said: “Home ground was our strength and competitive advantage in the competition. A team often stands a good chance of qualifying by winning all home games and ensuring that they chalk a win or at least collecting a point away.

“The Flames made up for the dropped points against Burkina Faso by winning away against South Sudan.”

Flames captain Limbikani Mzava said the statistics are  proof that they are turning their home ground into a fortress.

“That is why when we needed a win against Uganda to qualify, we were optimistic we would do it,” he said.