Malawi played themselves back into contention to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations after a brave 2-0 win over Mali at the Kamuzo Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles looked lackluster on the day and simply had no answer for Malawi’s pace, purpose and energy, the home side also boosted by some magnificent support from the stands throughout the 90 minutes.
The west Africans looked sluggish in the first half, at least in comparison to the sprightly Malawian players, who overran their more illustrious opponents in the opening stanza.
Mali were on the backfoot throughout the opening half and Malawi could have been at least a goal to the good if they had been able to make better use of their chances.
The first real opportunity came on 15 minutes, when Robert Ng’ambi forced Mali keeper Oumar Sissoko into making an excellent reflex save to keep out his angled drive which was arrowing towards the corner of the net.
Soon after that, the lively Joseph Kamwendo, who was making things happen for his side, sent a left-footed drive swerving just wide of goal.
With the home fans now in full voice behind their team, the Flames continued to dominate the game as more chances followed.
But they could not find the back of the net as Kamwendo and then Essau Kanyenda had shots saved by Sissoko, while Ng’ambi sent a first-time volley just wide of the target.
Kanyenda had a couple of near-misses with two successive headers before Ng’ambi missed the best chance of the first half when he volleyed over the bar from right in front of goal after being played in by Kanyenda’s clever chested pass on 43 minutes.
The home side continued to enjoy the upper-hand as the game moved into the second half, with Ng’ambi having two half chances before Fisher Kondowe spurned a guilt-edged opportunity by heading badly wide of goal from just eight yards out.
With 55 minutes gone, Mali finally had their first decent opportunity of the game when Bakary Sako had a free header in the box, but his effort looped just wide of goal with Malawi keeper McDonald Harawa left rooted to the spot.
The Flames were finally rewarded for their endeavors when they took a 65th minute lead after Ng’ambi’s shot deflected off his captain Kamwendo and looped over Sissoko and into the net.
Kamwendo came close to doubling the lead seven minute later, but his free kick was well saved by Sissoko.
The win was sealed in the 86th minute when Kanyenda was rewarded for his hard work with a headed goal after a cross from the right.
The result leaves both the Flames and the Eagles on six points in Group B. Algeria (14 points) and Ethiopia (three points), meet later this evening.
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