Algeria/Malawi: 'Whipping Boys' Inflict Shock Defeat on World Cup Team

11 January 2010
allAfrica.com
By Mark Gleeson

The surreal nature of the African Nations Cup finals in Angola was taken up a notch on Monday afternoon as Malawi pulled off a stunning upset win over World Cup-bound Algeria.

The 3-0 win for the Flames marked their first ever win at a Nations Cup finals, in what is only their second-ever appearance after previously participating at the 1984 finals in Cote d'Ivoire.

It puts the Malawians at the top of the group standings, a situation seen as improbable before the tournament started when they were cast as no more than whipping boys.

But they turned out to be the team who inflicted all the pain on Monday, in front of sparsely-populated November 11 stadium which less than 24 hours earlier had been awash with noise and colour at the official opening of the tournament.

Eight goals on Sunday might have left Nations Cup fans dizzy when they woke up on Monday; Malawi added to the feeling of disbelief as their unfashionable squad out-jumped, out-muscled and outfoxed a team who will play in at the World Cup finals in South Africa in mid-year.

On Monday's exhibition, Algeria will go to South Africa with as much credence as Malawi were given before the tournament in Angola.

Russell Mwafulirwa opened the scoring in the 17th minute, picking up on a piece of good fortune as the ball rebounded into his path after a mix-up in the defence.

Algeria's highly-rated central defender Majid Bougherra and goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi bundled into each other, under pressure from Malawi striker Esau Kanyenda, as they attempted to clear the ball, and it fell for Mwafulirwa to pounce and score from an acute angle.

The second Malawi goal came as Algeria were looking odds on for an equaliser. Moses Chavula wacked a free kick perfectly into the penalty area and tall defender Elvis Kafoteka forced home a powerful header, unchallenged by the north African defenders.

The contest was as good as over just minutes into the second half when a goalkeeping howler saw Mwafulirwa hit the upright first and then Davie Banda finish up the rebound from close range. He was hurt in the process and had to be taken off.

It was arguably the biggest win ever for the Malawians, who face the host nation in the next match in the Angolan capital on Thursday.

Another shock result in that game and Malawi will be improbably through to the quarter finals.

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