Flames need a win in Chad to qualify
Many soccer pundits left Kamuzu Stadium saddened on Saturday after the Flames drew 0-0 with Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations thinking it’s a huge mountain for the Flames to qualify for tournament finals.
However, looking at the latest information, the Flames only need to beat Chad to qualify even if Tunisia beat Togo.
Both teams have the same number of points (11), with the Carthage Eagles having a better goal aggregate.
Malawi go away to Chad on October 8 who are sitting out this round of matches whilst Tunisia have a home game against Togo.
According to World Cup blog for Malawi, it states that the first leg between the two teams at the November 7 Stadium in Rades, Tunisia ended 2-all draw giving Malawi an advantage basing on Article 14 (Rule14.4) of Group K equality of points qualification.
According to the rule, it states that a team with greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams will qualify on head-head rule.
So what if, Malawi beat Chad and Tunisia beat Togo by the same number of goals? Does it mean rule 14.4 will not apply? Will they still go by number of goals scored? No, this is what will be followed in order basing on the same rules.
Rule 14.1 states that greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams; if both teams will win then they will be tied on 14 points. then the next option will be to go to next rule.
Rule 14.2 says: best goal difference in the matches between the concerned teams; goal difference between Malawi and Tunisia is equal 2-2 and 0-0 draws. Then third rule will be another option.
Rule 14.3 states that greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the concerned teams: here both teams have equal number of goals (2). Fourth rule will be the next option here.
Rule 14.4 says greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams: Malawi scored two away goals while Tunisia scored none away goals. End of story, the Flames will progress through using this rule avoid they manage to scorch Chad even with a lone score to nothing.
The following rules will not apply if Flames will win in Chad; or if both Flames / Chad and Tunisia /Togo games will end in draws; or if both Malawi and Tunisia will lose; because of rule 14.4.
Rule 14.5 stipulates that goals difference in all the group matches while rule 14.6 says greater number of goals scored in all the group matches.
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