Malawi lose again to Algeria , Africa Cup hopes diminishes

Malawi national football team on Wednesday lost again to Algeria in a reverse fixture for January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals and are on the blink  missing out of the continental soccer showpiece while Algeria became the first team to qualify with a 3-0 win.

Last week Malawi lost to the same opposition 0-2  at home in Blantyre.

On Wednesday Algeria first  goal of the game came after just a minute as Porto’s Yacine Brahimi fired high into the net after a neat one-two with Islam Slimani on the edge of the area.

Riyad Mahrez, who plays for English Premier League side Leicester City, doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.

He picked up a superb through ball from Sofiane Feghouli before turning inside a defender and finishing with a low shot.

Mahrez then turned provider as his cross was met by Slimani’s head to confirm Algeria’s place at the Nations Cup finals.

Earlier on the same group B,  Ethiopia, despite playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men, avenged their loss on Saturday at home to Mali with a surprise 3-2 win in Bamako.

The results mean Algeria have a maximum 12 points guaranteeing them a top two finish, Mali stay second despite losing on six points while Malawi and Ethiopia both have three.

The top two from each group and the best third-placed side qualify for the tournament in Morocco.