Malawi National Football Team might have already been booted out of qualifying for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) but the urge to finish their group matches with a win is what will be pushing them this afternoon.
The Flames will be hoping to restore their pride when they face already-qualified Guinea in a dead-rubber encounter at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Malawi’s hopes of making it to Ivory Coast were dashed following a goalless draw against Ethiopia at Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo, Mozambique, on June 20 this year.
Egypt are the other team that has qualified from Malawi’s group with 12 points from five matches whereas Guinea have nine points from the same number of matches.
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Therefore, a win for the Flames will not mean anything as they have four points from five matches, at par with bottom-placed Ethiopia.
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A win for both teams will take them to seven points, which will still be far from what Egypt and Guinea have.
Malawi will be looking for revenge against Guinea having lost to the Sly Nationale in two consecutive matches by 1-0 margins.
The two teams last met on June 9 2022 in which Naiby Keita scored deep in stoppage time to snatch a late win for the West Africans.
Malawi also lost by a similar margin during the Afcon finals in Cameroon last year.
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The Flames and Sly Nationale have met seven times in all competitions in recent years.
Out of the seven matches, Guinea have won five whereas Malawi won just once with the other match ending in a draw.
However, there is renewed hope in the Flames camp following their impressive showing during this year’s Cosafa Cup where they finished fourth.
Malawi interim coach Patrick Mabedi said his charges will play to win.
“We are looking forward to continuing from where we left off at the Cosafa Cup. We want to win and make our fans happy. This is an important game for purposes of continuity and pride. We just need to give our fans what they deserve, and that is a win,’’ Mabedi said.
The former Kaizer Chiefs captain took over from Romanian Mario Marinica whose contract was not renewed following a string of poor results.
His squad is mostly made up of local players who impressed at the regional competition in South Africa.
Missing from the Flames’ squad this afternoon are foreign country-based stars Gabadinho Mhango, Yamikani Chester, Khuda Muyaba and Charles Petro but captain John Banda, Richard Mbulu, Chawanangwa Kaonga and goalkeeper Brighton Munthali are available for selection.
Banda said they are eager to finish on a high.
“We are playing for pride and also preparing for World Cup qualifiers. We also have a lot of young players in the squad, so the match will give them a good exposure,’’ he said.
Also missing in the Flames’ squad is Chimwemwe Idana who is suspended.
The Flames have lost three matches in the qualifiers with one win and a draw.
Guinea arrived in the country yesterday for the match.
