For obvious reasons, the Flames fans must be following Africa’s kings, Nigeria’s Super Eagles, with interest at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
The Flames travel to Nigeria this September needing a win at all cost to go to the final qualifying stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Yet no Malawi football side has ever beaten Nigerian opposition. Malawi got hammered 4-1 in their last visit to Nigeria in a competitive game. The best Malawi result in Nigeria was the 2-2 Dan Chitsulo-inspired draw with the Super Eagles in a friendly match in 2000.
At club level, trips to Nigeria have always ended in tears. Bakili Bullets were the last Malawian visitors to Nigeria where they returned with six unanswered goals.
Yet talk to every analyst, fan and administrator then the feeling is that with thorough preparations, the Flames can hold their own in Lagos. Luck exists in football hence it is possible for the Flames to catch Nigeria on their off day.
FAM commercial manager Casper Jangale is among those with the ‘yes we can’ belief. Unlike many, Jangale insists that only a good strategy can see Malawi through.
“We have never beaten them but then records in football are bound to be broken. Brazil had never beaten France in years but they finally did it,” said Jangale last week about the friendly match.
Thorough preparations here mean more days in camp, more warm-up matches against worthwhile opposition in the mould of Ghana and better incentives, instead of the K30 000 (about $75) for a win bonus.
It is an uphill task, but Malawi can take comfort in the fact that the Nigerians are leaking in a goal in almost every game.
The difference between Tahiti’s 10-0 baptism of fire by Spain and Nigeria’s earlier 6-1 trouncing of the islanders last week did not lie in the margin of cricket scoreline.
But rather that Spain were more respectful of Tahiti and kept a clean sheet while Nigeria despite that hugely impressive win, still let in a goal and generally allowed the semi-professionals to get behind the defence and trouble goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
That the Stephen Keshi side allowed Tahiti to score is not surprising. When meeting Nigeria, there are two things to be certain of; they will score and that they will concede.
In the last five games for the group, Nigeria only kept two clean sheets in 1-0 wins over Namibia and Kenya. The other three games ended in 1-1 draw.
Their suspect defensive record could be due to that while Nigeria has quality wing backs in Elderson Echiejile and Efe Ambrose, central defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo are, according to international football analyst Ed Dove, “relatively inexperienced”.
In as far this group is concerned, Nigeria have not scored more than a goal, suggesting the strategy on beating should focus more on keeping things tight and wait to catch them on the break.
So it has been five games, five goals scored and three conceded. Two of their four goals have come late in the game from defenders in set pieces especially corners.
“Doubts still remain about the side’s attack, or rather, the attackers present in the absence of Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike. Those selected once again looked worryingly toothless and insipid,” Dove added in his latest column.
In the five games, Nigeria have gone in front thrice while coming from behind twice in equal number of games to draw. At the Confederations Cup, Nigeria had as of Saturday scored seven and allowed in three.
In comparison, Malawi’s five games in the group have produced one win and four draws. They have scored four goals while conceding three let in. This suggests that the Flames also have work to do up front.
So, if the Flames dream of beating Nigeria, they better work on making their defence water-tight, wait for a freak goal in that game and close the door.
“They are good up front because they are playing 4-3-3 and they are very quick. Therefore, our defence has to concentrate on how to defend the three strikers. We will work on that when we regroup,” Ng’onamo told this The Sunday Times.
There is no official declaration of the Flames’ must-win trip to Nigeria. However, there can be no denying the fact that in the heart of hearts of those helpless fans, it is safe to suggest that Malawi is on ‘Operation defeat Nigeria’.
