Own goal sinks Malawi Flames
On Tuesday, caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo cajoled his charges to sweat blood. Then captain Joseph Kamwendo promised ‘120 percent’ performance.
But come on a cold afternoon today (Wednesday), the Flames blew hot and cold to draw 2-2 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre—certainly ending their World Cup Africa qualification dream.
Malawi twice led through Robin Ngalande and Robert Ng’ambi only to donate goals in a performance that could be rated at 50 percent as the hosts’ first-half display was sluggish.
Flames’ woes were summed up by substitute Chimango Kayira’s injury-time own goal.
Not even a K100 000 ($250) bonus pledge and K1.2 million (about $3 000) offer from comedian Michael Usi aka Manganya could produce something in a disgruntled Flames side smarting from a boycott over bonuses.
Gaba magic
Not even Gabadinho Mhango’s return as a super substitute could change things.
It all ended in tears with angry fans blocking the way for the Flames team bus for over 20 minutes, forcing the police to fire tear gas.
On seven points, the Flames can, barring a miracle, no longer catch Group F leaders Nigeria who are playing Namibia later tonight.
Before today’s game, Nigeria had eight points.
This was the latest edition of Malawi’s so-near-yet-so-far story that started with hope when Ngalande made the most of Esau Kanyenda’s effort to drill the ball past Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ochieng Aketch.
But two minutes later, Malawi went to sleep. A defensive blunder allowed Raza Murunga acres of space to fire past goalkeeper Charles Swini.
With Mhango and Kayira in before the break for John Banda and Dave Banda, the Flames stepped up the tempo in attack. Ngalande was all over the pitch ferrying the ball from here to there.
False hopes
He then had better company of Chiukepo Msowoya who came in for Kanyenda. False hopes were raised again as some beautiful exchanges resulted in a square ball from the left, allowing Ng’ambi to side-foot the ball far and wide of Kenya’s ‘keeper.
But then Malawi went to sleep again. A long throw-in from the left into the Malawi penalty box was messed up into the net by a falling Kayira’s heavy touch.
Such a dismal performance coming 24 hours after an aborted players’ boycott over meagre game bonuses was hardly surprising.
On Tuesday morning, Kamwendo, his arms crossed and his intense face masking disappointment over a bonus dispute, suggested that the players were focused. Now we know it was not true.
It was thus not surprising that the Flames leaked the goals today. So at the end of a three-game target set by FAM, Ng’onamo finished with one win and two draws in competitive matches.
“It was very unfortunate. I am disappointed. We deserved to win this game, but complacency cost us. This ends our dream in the World Cup qualifiers. We may now have to focus on the Cosafa Cup,” said Ng’onamo.
His Kenya counterpart Adel Amrouche said he was not happy with the result which he attributed to the absence of his key players
