Malawi give Algeria that empty feeling

Malawi give Algeria that empty feeling

Less than two months ago, Algeria were celebrating qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986 by climbing the goalposts in Khartoum after a 1-0 playoff win against Egypt.

On Monday the Desert Foxes drove their fans up the wall by being deservedly thumped 3-0 by Malawi - ranked 99th in the world and statistically the worst team at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Malawi have not reached the continental tournament since 1984, losing by the same score to Algeria on March 5 that year and finishing bottom of their group with one point.

Now they are riding high two points clear at the top of Group A with the chance to qualify for the quarter-finals if they win their next match against Angola - a result that would leave the hosts' progress on a knife edge.

Algeria, ranked 26th in the world, need at least a point in their next game against Mali.

The Flames' victory in Luanda is one of those results that comes along every now and then to put the big boys in their place.

Strictly using rankings as a guide, the equivalent would be Spain losing to Montenegro in the first match of the European Championships.

Afterwards, Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri kept his cool.

"It's a normal win, it's not amazing," was his reply to my slightly excited take on the result in the mixed zone, where players and coaches can choose or choose not to talk to the media on their way out of the ground.

"I think Fifa should reconsider us because we don't deserve to be only 99.

"We've managed to win out first game in this competition after 25 years of trying to qualify.

"If we can get to the quarter-final stage we will be very happy. We're not ambitious, we're not looking to win the Cup."

Notably not keeping their cool were Algeria, whose lineup included nine of the players that started the match against Egypt in Sudan in November.

Chasing the ball in the 32C mid-afternoon heat of the nearly empty November 11 stadium apparently didn't suit them, as Malawi gently played passes around the panting men in green.

Malawi took an early lead with a clinical finish from Russel Mwahfulirwa that was doubled with a header by Elvis Kafoteka, before Davi Banda made the points safe in the second half.

Most of the Algeria fans in the ground were occupying the press box, with the echoing stands a far cry from the electric atmosphere of the Egypt tie or the opening match between Angola and Mali on Sunday.

"We are far from home but we know in Algeria all the people are watching the TV so we're sorry for the country, but we know they're behind us so we've got to do it," said Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra when I asked if his side were serious about winning the trophy.

"We had a talk between the players and we want to do well in this African Cup."

Such a win would be a filip for the North Africans before they face England, the United States and Slovenia in the World Cup in June.

Even if this campaign ends as it began, it could provide a timely hardening of the team - a slap in the face to wake them up for the title fight ahead.

Malawi and their smiling coach will just hope more normal wins are around the corner.