Flames humbled at home

Malawi has suffered a 4 nil home defeat to Egypt in the second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Flames were in a must-win situation to ease qualifying pressure in group D where the race is slowly going in favour of the Pharaohs and Guinea who have 9 points each.

The result means the qualifying chances for Malawi are now slimmer as they lie third in a four member group with 3 points only.

The visitors opened their account at 4 minutes through Tarek Hamed and they proceeded to score at 16 minutes through Omar Marmoush before Liverpool forward Mo Salah netted his goal four minutes later.

Four minutes into the second half, Ahmed Sayed scored to seal victory for the seven-time African champions.

After the match, coach Mario Marinica said it was unfortunate that his charges did not carry the day.

“It is not the result we wanted because we played better compared to last time. The players are not to blame and may be it is time for Malawi Football to rebuild.” Said the Romanian tactician.

His counterpart from Egypt Rui Vitoria said; “it was a fantastic game. We were a very intelligent team today. We knew how they would approach us and we wanted to come more aggressive.”

The next qualifying matches are expected to be played in June.

Meanwhile, Marinica says he will not resign despite the team’s poor run of form.

The Romanian and Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu disappeared minutes before the end of the game as some people reportedly threated to attack them.

Tempers flared at the Bingu National Stadium as some angry sympathisers of the team carried placards with the message for the current FA president Walter Nyamilandu to step down accusing him of contributing to the side’s poor run of form.

Marinica insisted that; “I am not quitting. The targets you set for me are not mine. I do not have targets in my contract.”