FAM downplays Flames loss to South Sudan

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has downplayed Malawi national football team’s 2-0 loss to South Sudan in the last of their Group match of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup (Cecafa) in Ethiopia.

Malawi, featuring as guests, took the competition by storm by beating Sudan 2-1 following it up with a convincing 3-0 beating of Djibouti in the second group game.

The Flames dented their clean run with a 2-0 loss to South Sudan on Friday but Football Association of Malawi downplayed the result saying the coach used fringe players.

FAM General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said he was not worried with the loss after coach Ernest Mtawali reshuffled the first choice team to give a chance to other squad players.

“We understand that the coach was experimenting with new players so we cannot be worried,” Nyirenda said.

“Of course we would have loved to win all group games but considering that he used seven of the players who are not first choice players we cannot be worried. He gave a chance to those who have never had a chance to play.”

He said Mtawali was buoyed by the fact the team had already qualified for the quarterfinals of the Cecafa tournament being played in Ethiopia.