Malawi coach Chimodzi hails veterans: Algeria’s win over Ethiopia boosts Flames
Malawi national team coach Young Chimodzi hailed his players especially two experienced players Esau Kanyenda and Fischer Kondowe for spearheading the Flames to beat Mali 2-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers encounter on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium.
The Flames win kept alive the hopes of qualification.
Robert Ng’ambi and Esau Kanyenda scored the goals for Malawi, who are now level on points with Mali, with only one game left to play.
Table-toppers Algeria have already qualified and beat bottom side Ethiopia 3-1 on Saturday evening.
“As it is, the fight for the remaining slot in the group is still open to the remaining three teams and we have to fight for a win in our last match.
“I am so proud of what my players did in this game especially the experience of Kanyenda and Kondowe helped us a lot,” said Chimodzi.
“They played well and concentrated on the job. They have so much potential and l was impressed with their hard working spirit.”
Chimodzi added: “When I came on board a year and a half ago my dream was to make Malawians happy that they could have a very good team they could be proud of.
“We are not there yet but we are in the process and I am happy about that.”
The Flames took a 65th minute lead after Ng’ambi’s shot deflected off his captain Joseph Kamwendo and looped over Mali’s Sissoko and into the net.
Kamwendo came close to doubling the lead seven minute later, but his free kick was well saved by Sissoko.
The win was sealed in the 86th minute when Kanyenda was rewarded for his hard work with a headed goal after a cross from John Lanjesi in the right flank.
“You don’t want to know what was going on in my head five minutes from the end,” said the
Malawi coach.
“So many things were going through my head but I was keeping the faith.”
Chimodzi was under huge pressure to win the match after losing to Algeria in the previous match.
Malawians had been scathing of his decision to leave established players like Fischer Kondowe and Esau Kanyenda out of the squad in favour of younger, inexperienced players.
Walter Nyamilandu, Football Association of Malawi president said it was “great performance” for Chimodzi charges.
Malawi now head to Ethiopia on Wednesday in search of win to qualify ahead of next year’s showpiece in Equatorial Guinea.
Skipper Joseph Kamwendo has vowed that the players will ” fight for every inch of the way.”
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Algeria never relax we need the 3point of Mali the score
Mali 1 Algeria 3
Big up Flames
kodi nduna yamasewelo inaliko?ndinachoka ndinangonyadila kuti tawina.ndiye amamva bwanji?
Too late to recall Esau,this guy is so dangerous ever.Next time look when he is in possession with the ball, he always give defenders tough time coz he go straight to defenders at the same time he creates chances to others.Big up Black Mamba for your grand fight.Lastly,I would like to appeal to the gvt to construct new stadium Blantyre the home of everything.
kungoluza ya ethiopia nde kut nanu team yakuthelan muyendele yanu ma coach nonse
let us beat ETHIOPIA if we fail we have ourselves to blame that is the easiest team of all and you never know Mali can pull a surprise against ALGERIA or even Algeria relaxing because they have already qualified and if a chance a rises let us score more goals because these will matter on wedsday evening all the best flames
Not to worry eclic…. Les Fennecs will not be anything but vigilant against Mali…we know them well as they know us well. Ethiopia will be on guard as well because they want to qualify too. Good luck to Malawi!
Algeria’s Fennecs are indeed qualified, but we cannot be over-c0onfident. We want just to win the AFCON as a farewell gesture to our beloved Madjid Bougherra who leaves international duty after February 8th 2015 with 68 caps and ten years of excellent service to FAF, thhe Fennecs and Algeria’s kids..
chi big hug 2 chimodzi & all flames players
Goodall Gondwe said there’s no money for the flames, Credit should go to Aitel, tnm, NB. FAM but not govt. Malawi govt wanted FAM to withdraw from the race. Tisamvetu kuti mukubamo paja akanganya inu mulibe nazo
well done Flames
Flames Woye ,a Mali Musova.