formality match
Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi will be out to complete his five-month reign with an unbeaten run in open play when Malawi host Guinea in a 2023 Afcon qualifier which will be of little significance this afternoon.
The Malawi National Football Team and the Syli Nationale face-off at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in their last Grouip D Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier and a win for the Flames could boost Mabedi’s chances of being considered for a permanent role.
Malawi are out of contention for a slot while Guinea already punched their ticket to the continental showpiece with a game to spare. Absolute luxury.
Mabedi is unbeaten in seven matches in open play since taking over from Romanian Mario Marinica in April. Under his tutelage, the Flames have won three and drawn four matches.
And while today’s encounter is a dead rubber, Mabedi said It provides him a chance to further expose the up-and-coming players.
He said: “It’s an important match as it will help us gauge where we are and playing at home gives us a chance to impress our fans.
“We also have to be mindful of the [Fifa] rankings. So, it is not like we are just going there to fulfill the fixture.”
The former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach also said he will try to blend rookies and experienced players.
Malawi will also be out to avenge their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Guinea in the first round of the qualifiers in June last year.
Veteran coach Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman also echoed Mabedi’s view that the match provides the interim Flames gaffer an opportunity to give new players more exposure.
“He can choose to mix old and new players because even through the match is of little significance, there are issues like ranking and pride to that come into play. This is the ideal match for the youngsters to prove their worth,” he said.
Guinea will be without their captain Naiby Keita, who scored the lone goal in their last meeting and coach Kamara Diawara has included two uncapped players in his squad, namely France-based Auxerre left-back Mabio Keita and defender Mohamed Cherif Camara, who plays in the Guinean top-flight league.
Before last night’s Group D’s other match between Egypt and Ethiopia, the Flames lied third in the four-team group with four points. They were tied on points with Ethiopia’s Walias. The Pharaohs of Egypt had 12 points while second-placed Guinea have nine points.
The former Flames skipper has named six uncapped players in his final squad, namely, defenders Yamikani Mologeni and Tatenda M’balaka of Silver Strikers, midfielders Chikondi Kamanga also from Silver, Ekwendeni Hammers’ Wongani Lungu and Wisdom Mpinganjira of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers as well as striker Adiel Kaduya of Silver.
Mabedi has included only four foreign-based players in the predominantly touthful squad, namely Mozambique-based duo of captain John ‘CJ’ Banda and striker Richard Mbulu, South Africa-based goalkeeper Brightone Munthali and forward Chawanangwa Kaonga, who is based in Zambia.
Other players with some experience are defenders Stanley Sanudi, Lawrence Chaziya and Dennis Chembezi, winger Peter Banda and midfielder Francisco Madinga.
Statistically, the odds appear to swing in Guinea’s favor as they have won five of their seven encounters. Malawi have only won once, a 2-1 joint World Cup and Afcon qualifier in September 2009, while the other ended in a stalemate.
