Malawi suffered a disappointing result at home on Friday as they were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier at the BNS Stadium in Lilongwe.
Ronny Van Gedenguen’s side didn’t really do enough to deserve to win the game, and Morocco might even have grabbed the three points themselves, hitting the post in the first half.
Khuda Muyaba almost opened proceedings with a wonderful goal in the 8th minute, winning the ball brilliantly in midfield and attempting a chip over El Kajoui Mohir that just landed on the roof of the net.
It soon became clear that while Morocco were prepared to sit back and absorb pressure from Flames where necessary, they were certainly not just here to defend, causing RVG’s defense all sorts of problems in the first half.
In the 9th minute, Bourabia Mehdi found space inside the area and his shot was well saved at the near post by Ernest Kakhobwe.
Gomezgani Chirwa then conceded possession poorly inside his own half, and the ball came to Hadraf Zakaria who whipped in a vicious low cross that Behoun Badr turned onto the post.
Midfielder Ait Youssef was the next man to test Kakhobwe, his long-range effort spectacularly tipped away by the Flames goalkeeper.
Flames were getting little change out of their opponents at the other end, though they did cause a couple of scares from set pieces. On one such occasion, Gabadinho Mhango’s flick from a corner flew across the face of goal.
Gerald Phiri then almost create a bit of magic out of nowhere, flicking the ball up for himself and volleying an effort that forced Mohir into his first save of the night.
And right at the end of the first half, Peter Chilopi just failed to get on the end of a cross before the ball fell to Yamokani Chester on the edge of the area, and he lashed over.
Flames started the second half with a bit more spark, and Peter Chilopi headed Mhango’s corner just wide in the 49th minute.
Chirwa and Muyaba were linking far better in this half, with Felix Zulu also brought on to add some fight up front, but Flames still battled to create clear chances.
When Chilopi did send Muyaba clear, El-Hajjam Oulaid made a superb last-ditch challenge to deny the Be Forward Wanderers attacker.
At the other end, similar brilliance from Banoun Badar stopped Phiri from getting a shot away.
In the 76th minute, Cholopi found Muyaba with a raking pass, and he skipped inside but his shot flew well off target.
Still, Flames battled to find a way through and Katinnji was next to miss, heading Chirwa’s cross well off target. When Lanjesi tipped over John Banda’s effort in stoppage time, the last chance of the game had gone.
The other game in the group is on Saturday and sees Cameroon face visiting Comoros to decide who will be playing in the finals.
A draw for former hosts Cameroon will be enough for them to advance, while victory for Comoros will see them clinch second place thanks to a better head-to-head record with the Indomitable Lions.
