Malawi Runs Through Algeria, 3-0, to Open CAN

Elvis Kafoteka scored the second goal in Malawi's 3-0 win over Algeria.

Malawi was considered the weakest side in Group A, while Algeria was a common favorite for being the only team in the quartet to have qualified for the World Cup.  Those descriptions belied a Malawian squad that had shown constant improvement through World Cup qualifying and a Algeria team that came into the Cup of Nations in mild turmoil.

In Algeria there had been rumors of Rabah Saadane’s sacking prior to this tournament.  The federation was holding strong under pressure, the published rumors held, from a team rife with discontent.

That turmoil now serves as reasoning behind Algeria’s surprisingly lopsided 3-0 draw to Malawi to open their Cup of Nations.

Malawi’s first goal came in the 17th minute from an apparently lack of focus from the Algerians.  A long ball played from deep within the Malawi end.  Defender Samir Zaoui failed to play the ball, forcing Lounés Gaouaoui to come off his line to try and play the ball at the end of the penalty box.  Miscommunication between the goalkeeper and defender Madjid Bougherra saw the ball escape both, setting-up Russell Mwafulirwa for a shocking opening goal.

Twenty minutes later, Malawi was up 2-0 after a 35th minute goal from Elvis Kafoteka whose header finished a play from a corner kick, with defender Moses Chavula’s crossed assist coming from roughly 40 meters from the end line.

Three minutes after half, Malawi made it 3-0, with Dave Banda culminating a wild set of events that started with Gaouaoui flailing at a cross, setting-up Malawi for a shot to an empty net that would go off the post, the rebound from which Banda would scored his goal.

Yet to face Mali or host Angola, Algeria finds itself at the bottom of Group A with a -3 differential.

In contrast, Malawi is the unexpected leader of Group A after one complete match day, sitting two points ahead of both Angola and Mali.

Malawi faces Angola on Thursday in Luanda, the second match of a doubleheader that starts with Mali versus Algeria.