Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, are out of the 2024 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers following a goal-less stalemate with Ethiopia at Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo, Mozambique, Tuesday.
The Flames were desperate for maximum points against Ethiopia to keep their Afcon finals dream alive but they fired blanks.
Malawi, having qualified for Afcon finals last year, were eyeing their second successive qualification to make their fourth appearance but it was never to be.
It was a cruel result for the Flames as Guinea joined Group D leaders Egypt as the second team to qualify for the continental showpiece from the group.
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Egypt have 12 points from five matches whereas Guinea have nine points from the same number of matches. Malawi and Ethiopia each have four points.
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The Flames will host Guinea’s Syli Nationale in the last match of the qualifiers slated for Bingu National Stadium in September whereas Egypt will face Ethiopia.
In a match monitored on SuperSport, the Flames should blame themselves for failing to bury the game in the first half after missing some chances, in a match played without fans following Ethiopia’s wish.
Chawanangwa Kaonga had two attempts in the first half which were dealt with by Ethiopia goalkeeper Seid Habtamu.
Defender Chembezi Dennis headed over the bar from Alick Lungu’s corner-kick whereas Nickson Mwase headed straight into the palms of the Ethiopia goalkeeper in the first half.
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On the other hand, Ethiopia had one real chance in the first half.
After the break, Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi made a surprise double substitution when he introduced Gaddie Chirwa and Chikumbutso Salima for Chawanangwa Kaonga and Yamikani Chester, respectively.
However, the team struggled in the second half as Ethiopia were in control of the match.
Kenean Markneh nearly punished Malawi but goalkeeper Brighton Munthali was equal to the task as the goalkeeper made crucial saves.
Late on, Mabedi threw his last dice when he introduced Chifundo Mphasi and Lloyd Njaliwa for Mbulu and Chimwemwe Idana but could not get the desired result.
In post-match reaction, Mabedi was disappointed with the result.
“We started unsettled and we were rushing. We did not execute the game-plan well,” Mabedi said.
The performance of the Flames offers little hope to Malawians ahead of the Cosafa Cup slated for next month.
Line ups:
Flames: Brighton Munthali, Stanley Sanudi, Dennis Chembezi, Nickson Mwase, Alick Lungu, Chimwemwe Idana, Yamikani Chester, Chawanangwa Kaonga, John Banda, Lanjesi Nkhoma.
Ethiopia: Seid Habtamu, Henok Adugna, Yared Baye, Aschalew Tamene, Remedan Yussouf, Amanuel Yohannes, Shemelles Bekeke, Kenean Markneh, Biniam Belay, Duressa Shubisa, Habtamu Taddese.
