Malawi beat Zambia but crashes out of CAF
Malawi national women’s football team crashed out of he 2012 CAF African Women’s Championship despite beating Zambia’s She-Polo polo 4-2 in the second leg played on Sunday at the giant Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre.
In the first leg which was played at Konkora Stadium in Lusaka two weeks ago, Malawi were hammered 7-0. On aggregate Malawi lost 9-4.
In Sunday’s encounter, which was graced by the Minister of Sports Simon Vuwa Kaunda, Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu and some delegates from Zambia, the hosts were first to find the net through a Tabitha Chawinga before the She-Polopolo equalized in the second half courtesy of Suzan Banda.
Malawi displayed fantastic football in the second half that they were a marvel to watch.
The Malawi women team scored the second goal before Zambia equalized again this time through Mupopa Kawange.
The Zambians supporters who mostly were women all the way from Lusaka who travelled in a Coachline Bus gave their team vocal support.
The women, who most of them were in the ages of 35-40, were busy uplifting their players with Zambian hits like “Time Time yawo yatha” and Malawian hit of the moment ‘Akamwire’ to the dismay of many Malawian spectators.
However, the Zambian supporters were silenced when Malawi scored two more goals to make it 4-2.
She-Polo polo coach Enala Simbeya, who watched the whole game on the touchline was delighted with her side for progressing through to the next round.
“It was not an easy game but lam happy because we have qualified. However, at some point in time l was not happy with the referee for denying us two clear penalties when my striker was fouled inside the eighteen yard box,” Simbeya told Nyasa Times.
His counterpart for Malawi, Temwa Msuku praised her girls for their positive approach by managing to beat Zambia.
“Iam impressed with the victory because coming from a 7-0 defeat to win by 4 goals to 2 is not an easy thing. My plea now to Fam and government is to organize more friendly matches for us,” said Msuku.
She-polopolo will now face Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the second round in May over two legs for a place at the Equatorial Guinea finals in November.
