Kinnah: Malawi can still qualify
Flames coach Kinnah Phiri says qualification for the 2012 African Cup of Nations final is not a farfetched dream for Malawi despite being held to a goalless draw against Tunisia on Saturday.
The Carthage Eagles frustrated the Flames at home to deny Malawi maximum points that would have put Malawi’s campaign on track but Kinnah believes their chances have not vanished.
“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t utilise home ground advantage and collect three points but the battle is still on. If we beat Chad convincingly in the next game with a wider margin, we can qualify,” he told reporters after the game.
Kinnah says fans should not rule out the Flames in the campaign adding that the team’s aim remains to qualify back to back for the big African showpiece.
The Flames mentor bemoaned lack of proper and adequate preparations ahead of the Tunisia game arguing a friendly would have offered him a chance to assess the team.
“That cancelled friendly against Mozambique was a missed opportunity for thorough preparations,” he protested.
The friendly game was cancelled following governments ban on all foreign trips to save forex.
Russian based striker Esau Kanyenda, who was stand-in captain on Saturday, says Malawi can still progress against all odds.
“We will still keep our head up and hope for the best” he told reporters.
Malawi’s next challenge will be an away game to Chad while Tunisia will host Togo in October.
