Flames face Mambas in Chan
The Malawi Flames face Mozambique Mambas in TotalEnergies Africans Nations Championship second round.
The Mambas set up the second round tie against the Flames after booting out highly-rated Zambia’s Chipolopolo 1-0 at Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia yesterday.
A week ago, the Mambas held Zambia to a goalless draw in Maputo, before finishing the job in the 81st minute.
The second round will start with the first legs on August 26-28, and the return fixtures on September 2-4.
The three winners from Southern Africa will join those from other regions for the finals in Algeria.
Malawi was initially drawn against Zimbabwe but following a Fifa ban on the Warriors, which is yet to be lifted the Flames got a walkover to the second round.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said now that the Flames know their opponents, the association will start planning for the two legged qualifiers.
He said: “You normally start preparations after knowing your opponents.
“Now that we know we will be facing Mozambique, the programme for the Flames preparations will now be drawn.”
Flames coach Mario Marinica said they expect a tough game.
“I should expect a very difficult game against a very tough opponent. They have good experienced players playing in a competitive league,” he said.
Malawi has never qualified for the Chan tournament which was introduced in 2007 to promote local players.
In the last edition, the Flames were knocked out by e-Swatini after a 1-1 draw at Kamuzu Stadium.
E-swatini held Malawi to a goalless draw in Manzini and went on to take a lead at Kamuzu Stadium before Micium Mhone’s late equaliser and the visitors proceeded on away goal rule.
The Chan tournament, , was originally scheduled to be played from July 10 to August 1 2022.
However, Confederation of African Football announced on September 10 2020 that the tournament had been rescheduled to January 2023, following the postponement of the 2020 Chan to 2021 and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oran, Algiers, Annaba and Constantine are the chosen cities to host the tournament.
Cameroon who hosted the last edition of the tournament last year are defending champions.
