It was not the prettiest of displays for Malawi national football team, but the Flames just got the job done with a 2-1 beating of stubborn Sudan’s Nile Crocodiles on Monday.
Coach Ernest Mtawali was surely excited by the score-line, but certainly not the performance of his charges, especially on the defensive side against the side ranked 128. Malawi is ranked 97.
Whatever, Mtawali told his charges, it was clear that the game-plan was one-dimensional, too cautious and too defensive. Peter Kanjere is in Bahir Dar and analyses the performance player-by-player.
Simplex Nthala
By his standards, he is still low on confidence due to his inactivity at his Mozambican club Maxaquene. In conceding on the 15th minute, he was not entirely to blame as he was unsighted by his defenders, who deflected Atahir’s low shot into the net.
And having pulled a number of excellent saves, including a penalty to ensure the Flames’ 2-1 win over Sudan, there should be few doubts on his number one credentials. He was not afraid to shout at his colleagues when they were sleeping and, Nthala for the better part of the game executed the role of a sweeper.
Miracle Gabeya (Sankhani Mkandawire)
Miracles do, indeed, happen in football. It is interesting that until his second-half injury, the Big Bullets’ bench-warmer was solid in defence, using his physique and height to thwart Sudan’s attack by man-marking winning aerial duels and stopping crosses.
Mkandawire
He replaced injured Bullets’ team mate, Gabeya. Mkandawire came at the right time when Malawi badly needed aerial presence to win the long balls which Sudan threw at Malawi. He pumped long balls aimlessly forward, but with the current crop of defenders, Mkandawire should be starting for he has the power, physical presence and toughness which most Malawi feeble defenders lack.
John Lanjesi
He was solid and combined well with Gabeya in the heart of the defence, but playing him as a sweeper is still a risky business as he lacks authority and organisational skills. Lanjesi and the rest of the defence sat deeper and deeper as the game wore on to invite more pressure.
Stanley Sanudi
The young right-back was, by far, the best defender on the pitch. It was only the Be Forward Wanderers’ wing-back who struck a balance between defending and overlapping and won most first time balls. He linked up well with John Banda.
Yamikani Fodya
He stepped up to the plate late in the game. He was played too deep for the better part of the game and did not overlap to whip balls into the box as he does at Big Bullets. At national team level, he finds the pace unbearable.
John Banda
Being played on the right wing seemed to confuse him. The Blue Eagles man had a quiet game by his lofty standards. Often times, he drifted inside, thereby creating a gap for Sudan to exploit on the right wing. He did not executive his trade-mark shoot-on-sight shots. He was, however, able to defend.
Dalitso Sailesi (Isaack Kaliyati)
That he was able to play until late in the second half was puzzling for it was clear that, despite scoring through a 12th minute header, he struggled to due to his small frame and a lack of power against a very physical opposition.
Kaliyati
Was able to track back opponents and help out the defence when the Flames were under pressure. He had little impact on the game.
Gerald Phiri Jnr
He created the opener for Sailesi through a corner-kick, won duels and was not afraid to stick his legs into tackles. However, he played too deep for a number 10.
Chimango Kayira
Like Banda, the midfield general had a quiet game and did not seem inspired. He was, nonetheless, still able to keep the midfield ticking with ball-winning abilities and tracking back.
Shumacher Kuwali (Nelson Kangunje)
He is striking a telepathic understanding with Msowoya upfront by playing in front of each other. Kuwali knows when to go wide and into the box when Msowoya does vice-versa. There is still room for improvement though especially on his endurance and defending. It was just his second Flames match.
Kangunje
On his debut, he was thrown into the deep end at a time when Malawi were under pressure, hence he had little time to attack.
Msowoya
Two goals in the last four consecutive games is more than one can ask from a Malawian striker. He wasted two clear-cut opportunities and cost the Flames a penalty, but you cannot fault him considering that he has just recovered from an injury.
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