IT CAME AS BIG RELIEF—NGALANDE

Robin Ngalande, scorer of the Flames’ priceless goal against Chad’s Sao on Saturday, has said he was relieved after the final whistle as they sneaked into the final preliminary round of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Flames won the game on away-goal rule, after settling for a 3-3 draw.

The South Africa-based lanky forward stepped off the bench in the second-half as the Flames trailed 0-3 to score the important goal.

“I was hungry for a goal. Prior to the game, I told ‘Pupa’ [Limbikani Mzava] that I had a feeling I would score.

“So, when the coach told me to warm up, I said to myself that this was it. When I stepped on the pitch, it was all about jumping at every opportunity that came my way. It was about salvaging the team from being booted out of the tournament,” said Ngalande in a telephone interview from Nd’jamena yesterday morning.

He said there was some pressure off after the goal considering the intimidating atmosphere at the packed Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium.

“In the first-half, we struggled, but we reorganised ourselves in the second-half. But although we were dominating the proceedings, there was one problem—minutes were ticking away and there was need to score a goal before we started panicking; and then it came,” said the Wits University forward.

Striker Atusaye Nyondo told MBC Radio 2 that the Flames struggled in the first-half because they played too deep.

“By playing too deep, we gave Chad room to keep us on the backfoot, but at half-time the coaches advised us to keep the ball and build up attacks and it worked,” said Nyondo.

He also said the lesson learnt from the game was taking advantage of home ground.

“It was a confirmation of how important it is to do well at home. Had we not carried a two-goal lead to Chad, it would have been disastrous,” he said.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said the Flames showed strong character to score an away goal.

“It was always going to be a tough match. I am delighted that we have progressed into the next round. The outcome, though, gives us plenty of food for thought. We have a lot of homework to do. We hope to do better with the return of some key players,” he said.

Sports journalist Frank Kandu said there was a clear lack of coordination in central defence and the midfield was also out of sorts and failed to supply good balls to the strikers.