Statistics favour Flames
If statistics are anything to go by, then the Flames are favourites in Sunday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Sihlangu Semnikati at Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba, Swaziland.
The two teams have met 18 times from which the Flames have won 10, drawn five and lost three, two of which were away.
The last time the two teams met was on May 29 2011 in an international friendly match which ended in a one-all draw.
But the last time they faced each other in a competitive match was in May 2007 in a Cosafa Cup match and Swaziland won 1-0.
Tomorrow’s match will be their seventh competitive meeting and in the past six matches, the Flames have won thrice, drawn twice and lost once.
They have played 12 international friendly matches that saw the Flames winning seven, drawing thrice and losing twice.
According to the statistics, the two teams first met on September 7 1968 when Malawi lost 2-0 in a friendly game.
The Flames have played away against Swaziland nine times—winning four, drawing three and losing twice.
The Flames biggest margin win against Sihlangu was 6-1 at home in January 1987 during the All Africa Games. They qualified for the next round on 9-2 aggregate win having won the second leg 3-1 away.
While the Flames have been to Africa Cup of Nations twice (in 1984 and 2010), Sihlangu have never qualified for the continental showpiece.
On Fifa rankings, the Flames are ranked 96th while Sihlangu are 39 places below the Flames.
However, Flames coach Ernest Mtawali said statistics can be deceiving at times.
“Statistics seem to favour us, but remember football is a dynamic game and Swaziland have made notable improvements of late as evidenced by their recent 2-1 win over Guinea in their opening [2017 Afcon] qualifier. We, therefore, need to exercise a lot of caution,” said Mtawali.
The Flames anchor Group L with no point alongside Guinea while Swaziland and Zimbabwe’s Warriors share the top position with three points apiece.
Malawi lost their first game to Zimbabwe 1-2 at home while Swaziland beat Guinea by the same margin away.
