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African Cup of Nations 2010: Malawi Team Guide

With the worst record of any of the 15-qualified teams represented at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, it will be an uphill battle for Malawi to make any impression at the tournament.

Malawi will arrive in Angola with the worst record from qualifying mustering just four points from their six matches. Nevertheless over the past 18 months The Flames, have posted one or two noteworthy results, including a victory over Egypt and holding the Ivory Coast to a draw, so they shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.

Of all the teams playing at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, none have as little international experience as Malawi, so simply participating at such a level will be of enormous benefit as they attempt to improve. Many suggest that the recent success that Malawi have enjoyed stems from Walter Nyamilandu, the President of the Malawian FA. The administrator set up a country-wide cup competition, has made the league a less chaotic affair and is now attempting to oversee a return to the heyday of Malawian football from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Regional dominance the aim

Malawi’s football dominance of East Africa was confirmed as the 1970’s ended with consecutive victories in the CECAFA Cup in 1978 and 1979, an annual competition for sides from the area. Although they couldn’t follow-up that success, they claimed fourth in 1983 and then in 1984 finished as runners-up and also qualified for their only previous attempt on the African Cup of Nations.

However, their sole qualification prior to 2010 for Africa’s premier tournament had as much to do with good fortune as good form. After beating Zimbabwe in the Preliminary Round of qualification, they were given a walk-over in the First Round against Zaire, before being paired with Madagascar in the Final Qualifying Round, a match they narrowly won 2-1 on aggregate.

Despite being minnows at the 1984 event, much like they will be in 2010, they certainly didn’t disgrace themselves, claiming a point off Nigeria and only going down a 1-0 defeat to Ghana. Since that initial promising performance Malawi have failed to get close to qualifying again and recent attempts hardly boded well.

The 2006 qualifying campaign resulted in bottom place in a six-team group with just one home win, and a 7-0 hammering by eventual World Cup participants Tunisia. The 2008 qualifying campaign was scarcely an improvement under English coach Stephen Constantine, who had achieved remarkable things with India and Nepal before his stint with Malawi. After significantly reducing the average age of the squad, Constantine couldn’t coax the required results out of his young charges and just one win and three defeats saw Malawi trail both Zimbabwe and Morocco in the final standings.

Improvement

Constantine remains a controversial figure within Malawian football, with many feeling his impact was negative, but it could be argued that the qualification for this event had its foundations in his work, as local coach Kinnah Phiri, a member of the 1984 team, took up the reigns.

All of Malawi’s best results have come at home during the qualification campaign, including those creditable performances against the like of Egypt and Ivory Coast, both of whom named relatively strong squads, but by no-means their full starting XI. Malawi’s progress through the first group stage was thanks to their victory over Egypt at home, something that their rivals the Congo couldn’t match, which saw Malawi pip them to second, and do enough in the rankings to squeeze through into the next stage.

There they found the going much tougher, and a 2-1 win in September 2009 over Guinea combined with the 1-1 draw against the Ivory Coast was just enough to ease them into third place, despite a last match-day defeat to Burkina Faso.

Recreating the spirit of ‘84

Unlike many of the teams at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, there will not be a significant European contingent, with two of Malawi’s European based players not even named in the preliminary 42-man squad. Drawing on his memory of the 1984 tournament Kinnah Phiri has already stated that he’s looking for team-spirit within the squad, and left out two South-African based players after allegations of indiscipline, although both have now returned to the fold.

It’s a wise policy for Malawi to pursue; in terms of quality they lag behind the other participants, so will need to maximise every other area, such as team harmony and spirit if they are to make any positive impact on the tournament. The initial news of qualification was greeted with hysteria in Malawi, but a much needed reality check came just a month later. After being invited to play in the COSAFA Cup, the regional tournament for Southern Africa, they were immediately bundled out of by Mozambique at the quarter-final stage after just one match. So there remains much work to do both on the pitch and behind the scene for Malawi.

Squad

Goalkeepers � Swadick Sanudi (Dynamos), Simplex Nthala (MTL Wanderers), Charles Swini (ESCOM United)

Defenders � Moses Chavula (Nathi Lions), James Sangala (1 Agosto), Allan Kamaga (Dynamos), Peter Maponda (Black Leopards), Elvis Kafoteka (ESCOM United), Maupo Msowoya (ESCOM United), Harry Nyirenda (MTL Wanderers)

Midfielders � Peter Wadabwa (Thanda Royal Zulu), Jacob Ngwira (Caraca Kicks), Joseph Kamwendo (Orlando Pirates), Hellings Mwakasungula (Silver Strikers), Robert N’gambi (Black Leopards), Davi Banda (Red Lions), Peter Mgangira (Silver Strikers)

Attackers � Chiukepo Msowya (AFR FC), Russel Mwafulirwa (IFK Norrkoping), Essau Kanyenda (FC KAMAZ), Victor Nyirenda (ESCOM United), Jimmy Zakazaka (Bay United), Atusaye Nyondo (Caraca Kicks)

Players to Watch

With one of the less well-known squads on the continent, Malawi will certainly have the advantage of surprise on their side. One of only two European based players is forward Essau Kanyenda currently plying his trade in the Russian Second Division with FC KAMAZ. With three goals in qualifying, including a hat-trick against Djibouti, Malawi will be relying heavily on the 27-year-old to continue finding the back of the net at the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Defender and captain of the team Peter Maponda will also have a crucial role to play for his side in Angola. One of the most experienced players in the squad, Maponda has been playing in South Africa for several seasons, both in the Premier Division and most recently in the First Division with Black Leopards. After suffering relegation at the end of last season, the Leopards are currently second and well placed for an immediate return to the top-flight. With the second lowest goals total against in the division, Maponda has been a vital cog for his club side’s defence, and will be potentially called into plenty of action during the tournament for Malawi.

Fixtures

11th Jan � Algeria

14th Jan � Angola

18th Jan � Mali

Prediction

As minnows not only in Group A but in the entire tournament, it will be a steep learning curve for this Malawian team. Therefore it’s quite conceivable that their three matches could quite possibly end in three defeats. Nevertheless taking lessons away from playing the like of Algeria, and Mali from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations will be the most important aspect of this competition. If the future development of the game ensures that qualification for this tournament becomes less sporadic and improves performances in the regional tournaments, then their time in Angola will be considered a success regardless of the outcome.

Posted by Walter Townsend on Tuesday, 5th January 2010

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