.……Malawi 0-3 Togo
By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi National Football Team U-23 has been taught bitter football lessons by their Togolese U-23 opponents who have beaten them by three goals to nil at ANTALYA Africa Cup taking place in Turkey.
After defeating Kuwait by two goals to nil in their opening game, the Mario Marinica’s lads thought they would likewise do against Togo on Monday, March 28, 2022.
But to the contrary, Emanuel Adebayor’s brothers applied different tactics.
Togo scored two goals in the first half as Malawi looked disjointed in many departments.
Then came second half, the West Africans who have missed the Africa Cup finals almost three times in a row, slotted the third one past the Malawi’s goal-minder.
Despite having experienced players on the field of play like Hadji Wali, Charles Petro and Innocent Shema, the Junior Flames failed to display their traditional classic soccer antics characterized by poor defending, tossing long balls and poor passes rendering total failure to create chances.
Marinica made three changes that differed from the line up that defeated Kuwait four days ago.
On goals he started Emmace Nyirenda, in defence he trusted the services of the Captain Charles Petro of Sheriff Trasipol of Moldova, Hadji Wali, Kestern Simbi and Blessings Mpokera while the engine room was taken care of by the Romania fielded Innocent Shema, Tatenda M’balaka, Lloyd Aaron, Chawanangwa Gumbo with Mphatso Kamanga and Christopher Gototo as twin strikers.
After noticing some shortfalls in his Arsenal, Marinica made several substitutions, taking off Emmance Nyirenda on the goal for Chance Mtete, Tatenda M’balaka, Lloyd Aaron, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Hadji Wali and Mphatso Kamanga for Masambiro Kaluwa, Patrick Mwaungulu, Festus Duwe, Robert Saizi and Alick Lungu.
Oops!, his changes yielded nothing as the young lads kept chasing their own shadows in this decisive half as Togolese fully kept shining displaying exciting football with beautiful passes up to the last whistle.
After the game the In-Charge of the technical Mario Marinica described the tournament as fantastic which gave them opportunity to expose the players at the same time making sure that they understand what it takes to play at international level.
“They have played against superstars,Togo very very strong team,physically fit and most of them playing in Europe. We brought local squad apart from Charles Petro,we had problems in this game.
“But I am pleased with the way the boys played but they lacked experience. Let’s be participating so often in such tournaments. We can soon make a grade”, Marinica narrated.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) sent the Junior Flames to Turkey on invitation to be part and parcel of international friendlies tourney.
