Injury blow for Malawi skipper Joseph Kamwendo

Malawi national team captain Joseph Kamwendo has been ruled out for two to three weeks after suffering an injury on duty against Algeria in last Wednesday’s Group B  2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier which Malawi lost 3-0 to dim hopes of making the Afcon finals.

Kamwendo was taken off stage in the first half after stretching his muscles , according to the Football Association of Malawi.

Despite not looking too bad at the time, Kamwendo confirmed that he injury will keep him away from the pitch for two  weeks, missing  Flames’ home Group B meeting with Mali on November 11 2014 and a trip to Ethiopia three days later.

The TP Mazembe midfielder  said doctors advised him “ to rest for two weeks”.

The Malawi skipper however expressed  optimism  that he will be fit for the Mali encounter.

During the same game, striker Atusaye Nyondo also got injured and missed his South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side University of Pretoria’s 3-0 loss to SuperSport United on Saturday.

The Flames’ assistant coach Jack Chamangwana has since said the injuries were due to the long trip to Algiers that took the Flames some 18 hours.

“It was not easy for the players to play a crucial game on Sunday then travel the following day,” Chamangwana is reported to have said.

The Flames are bottom of the group with three points at par on points with third-placed Ethiopia whereas Mali are second on six points.

The three teams are fighting for the second slot to join Algeria at the finals. Overall third best team across all groups shall also make it to the 2015 finals. Algeria won 2-1 and 1-0 over Ethiopia and Mali in September.

If Algeria, who have already sealed the Afcon berth, beat Ethiopia and Mali, the Flames could salvage something when also meeting the two teams.