Malawi draw Kenya 2-2: Kaira own goal deny Flames victory
Malawi on Wednesday saw their 2014 World Cup hopes go up in smoke when they were held 2-2 by Kenya in a qualifier match , giving the Nigeria a lee-way to win Group F.
Flames could not get the much needed revival win after leading twice at Kamuzu Stadium in commercial capital Blantyre.
Angry fans chanted anti Flames songs preventing the team bus to leave the stadium demanding for the players to walk after the match.
The fans, who closed the Makata road with branches of trees used abusive language to the players as bus was on its way to Ryalls Hotel under heavy police escort and they had to fire tear gas.
The return of wonderkid Gagadini Mhango as a super substitute insipired hope but it was South African based Robing Ngalande who put Malawi ahead a minute into the second half on an artificial pitch and Kenyan midfielder Jamal Mohamed levelled soon after.
Malawi celebrated a Robert Ng’ambi’s goal 10 minutes before regulation time only to be heart broken whensubstitute Chimango Kayira scored an own goal while trying to clear a long Kenya throw in.
The whole stadium went silence as Malawians led by FAM President at the VIP stand stood in disbelief. You could hear a drop of a pin in the stands.
Head coach Eddington Ng’onamo conceded the results were “painful” and that he was “heart-broken.”
“This is a painful result. And effectively the Flames dreams to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil is over,” said dejected coach.
“That is end of the road, our players lacked concentration especially in defence. We conceded silly goals and l do not know what Chimango was doing to score in his own net,” said Ng’onamo, adding “We may now have to focus on the Cosafa Cup.”
Nigeria have a one-point lead over Malawi and victory in a late Wednesday fixture away to Namibia will give them an unassailable four-point advantage.
They would be the first country to reach the final Africa zone round, which comprises five home-and-away ties with the winners qualifying for Brazil.
