Ghana vs Malawi – Malawi 20-Man Squad

I think Malawi will park the bus. Probable line ups:

Malawi:

Goalkeeper: Simplex Nthala (16)
Defenders: Moses Chavula (3), James Sangala (5), Harry Nyirenda, Limbikani Mzava (4)
Midfielders: Jos. Kamwendo (10), Robert Ng’ambi, Dave Banda (6), Frank Banda, Chimango Kayira (12)
Striker: Robin Ngalande (11) or Atusaye Nyondo (18)

Ghana:

Goalkeeper: Adam Kwarasey (16)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (7), John Boye (21), Isaac Vorsah (15), Harrison Afful (22)
Midfielders: Emmanuel Badu (8), Kwadwo Asamoah (20), Derek Boateng (9), Christian Atsu (4)
Strikers: Jordan Ayew (13), Asamoah Gyan (3)

What do YOU think?

Posted from  United States

We are going to beat Malawi by at least 3 goals. I don’t see Malawi giving us any problems.

Sudan beat Ghana. We can also do it.

There is no way Malawi can bëat us in Ghana. Even on our bad day we would still bëat this team.

Goalkeeper: Simplex Nthala
Defenders: Moses Chavula, James Sangala, Steve Chagoma, Limbikani Mzava
Midfielders: Joseph Kamwendo, Robert Ng’ambi, Dave Banda, Chimango Kayira
Strikers: Robin Ngalande, Atusaye Nyondo

We are wishing all the best Malawi. Your coach was here in Zambia two weeks ago to learn some tricks from our coach on how to beat Ghana. You will need to score early.

Gabadinho will need to start. This boy has swown that he can score. I would start him in place of Nyondo or Ngalande

4 September 2012: Liberia vs Malawi (International Friendly)

“Tuesday’s friendly match is very important because it will help us tune-up for Ghana. I will use the match to try a number of combinations and the strategy we intend to use for the Ghana game” – Malawi Coach as quoted by Nation Sports

Added Kinnah: “It will also help us see how we can handle the pressure playing away and also acclimatise to the weather conditions since Liberia is near Ghana.”

Defender Harry Nyirenda will not play today because he didn’t travel to Liberia. He will join the Squad in Accra tomorrow.

By the way, 1988 CECAFA Champions Malawi last played in Liberia in 1988 (1990 World qualifiers). Liberia won 1-0 and the goal was scored by George Weah. Malawi National Team players for that match included Lawrence Waya, Young Chimodzi, Peterkins Kayira…

Liberia will play 3 matches in 8 days? All Liberia’s three international matches on 4th, 8th and 11th of September against Malawi, Nigeria and Ghana respectively, will begin at 6pm (GMT).

Liberia foreign based players for the match against Nigeria on 8 September:

Defenders: Jimmy Dixon (Turkey), Solomon Grimes (Cyprus), Omega Roberts Alamadine (Serbia) and Patrick Gerdhart (Australia);
Midfielders: Alseny Keita (France), Theo Weeks Lewis (Turkey), Zah Krangar and James koko Lomel (Indonesia)
Strikers: Tonia Tisdell (Turkey), Sekou Jabateh Oliseh (Russia), Ansu Toure (Demark), Patrick Wleh (Malaysia), Junior Wilson and Boakai Foday (Indonesia).

Most of them will not play against Malawi because they (the foreign based player) will arrive in Liberia tomorrow.

Posted from  United States

Liberia 1:0 Malawi (89′ Zah Krangan)

Liberia line-up

Goalkeeper: Nathanial Sherman
Defenders: Solomon Grimes, Teah Dennis, Solomon Wesseh, George Gebro
Midfielders: James Koko Lomel, Theo Weeks Lewis , Isaac Pupo, Ansu Toure
Strikers: Zah Krangan, Junior Wilson

Substitutes:
Mulbah Urey (Goal-keeper)
James Galley (Goal-keeper)
Trokon Zeon (Defender)
Musa Dargbason (Defender)
Marcus Macaulay (Midfielder)
Martin Karndu (Midfielder)
Soto Roberts (Striker)
Sylvanus Morris (Striker)
Boakai Foday (Striker)

Malawi Line-Up:

Goalkeeper: Simplex Nthala
Defenders: Moses Chavula, James Sangala, Pilira Makupe, Limbikani Mzava
Midfielders: Joseph Kamwendo, Dave Banda, Frank Banda, Chimango Kayira, Peter Wadabwa
Strikers: Atusaye Nyondo

Subs Used:
Robert Ng’ambi (in for Joseph Kamwendo)
Jimmy Zakazaka (in for Peter Wadabwa)
Gabadihno Mhango (in for Atusaye Nyondo)

Now read the match report below…

Posted from  United States

Lone Star Left it Late Against Depleted Flames
By Wleh Bedell

Embattled Coach Joseph kaytu Smith got his first win as handler of the Lone Star, and in fact his biggest win ever in his coaching career as his charges pinned a deplete Flames of Malawi 1-0 in a friendly played on Tuesday, September4, at a virtually empty Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports stadium that could still not be filled after the gates were opened for free entry as the game progressed. Kaytu’s side got the better of their opponents, courtesy of an 89th minute easy tap in from the diminutive Zah Rahan Krangar of Indonesian outfit Persipura. Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did not however see the much needed goal as she had already left the pitch apparently thinking the game would have ended blank.

Playing without a host of their key players including Robin Ngalande of Bidvest Wits, South Africa, Tawonga Chimodzi, Santos, South Africa, Limbika Mzava, Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa, Robert Njambi and Ataye Ngonda, Platinum Stars, South Africa, Essau Kangenda, B93 Denmark, Jimmy Zakakaka and Sangala of Royal Zulu, South Africa, the Malawians paraded a completely local based side with players mainly drawn from Silver Stars, Super ESCOM and Bullets. The team is in transit to Ghana with their oversea based players expected to fly straightly to the land of the four times African champions.

Judging from the fact that they will be away to the Black Stars on Saturday, September 8, the same day the Lone Star will face the Super Eagles at the SKD, the Malawians adapted a very cautious approach as they implored a 4-5-1 formation that was swiftly altered to a 4-3-3 the rare times they went on the front foot.

They were keen on simple passing as their possession showed some promise, but could not threaten the opposition goal as they were only keen to winding down the clock. The likes of Joseph Kawando, Lalu Zubula and Tusaye Ngorro tried to pile the passes in midfield against an uninspired Lone Star squad that did not trouble opposing goalkeeper Nthala Sinplex in the entire first half as there was no shot on goal and just two corners.

…

Depleted Flames? No, that’s the new Malawi National Team. Ghana be afraid, be very afraid

“We played well today and I am impressed with the performance more especially with the local players. Some professional players, it seems, are not fully fit and that might force ME (emphasis by sscouser) to use more local players in the Ghana Game.” – Malawi Coach Kinnah Phiri

I thought the players were included in the squad because they passed the fitness test…

“Tuesday’s (yesterday’s) friendly match is very important because it will help us tune-up for Ghana. I will use the match to try a number of combinations and the strategy we intend to use for the Ghana game” – Malawi Coach Kinnah Phiri as quoted by Nation Sports

So back to square 1?

Posted from  United States

Ghana looking razor-sharp for Malawi qualifier – MTN

Ghana coach Kwasi Appiah worked with the full complement of his team for the first time on Thursday (Wednesday?).

The Black Stars are preparing to face Malawi in the first leg of the final 2013 Nations Cup qualifier on Saturday.

All but one of the 24-players in camp fully took part in the evening’s session at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu sat out the session as the medical team continues to monitor his yet to be disclosed injury.

The squad was divided into two groups for an XI-aside trial match with the likes of Christian Atsu and Jordan Ayew getting on the scoresheet.

The team later worked on set pieces with striker Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew and Derek Boateng as the preferred takers of dead ball situations.

Ghana need to win massively against the Flames to ensure the second leg is a mere formality.

The training so far gives a clear indication of the team’s readiness to rake in the goals on Saturday.

The match kicks off at 15:30 GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Posted from  United States

September FIFA Ranking – Published Today

The results of 54 ‘A’ internationals, all of which were friendlies distributed over all six confederations, were taken into account for the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

While the top ten has seen only one change, with Portugal (4th, up 1) swapping places with Uruguay (5th, down 1), there has been a lot more activity in the remainder of the top 20, where Switzerland (20th, up 3) have extended Europe’s predominance as the 14th UEFA team, Mexico (21st, down 3) have fallen below 20th for the first time since March 2012, and Ecuador (17th, up 3) have become one of the top 20 teams in their continued climb from the previous month by moving up a further three places.

The major movers in the top 50 include European sides Slovenia (24th, up 9), Belgium (40th, up 13), and Austria (49th, up 11), whose 2-0 win at home to Turkey has seen them back in the top 50 after one and a half years.

Belgium have brought their three-and-a-half-month stretch out of the top 50 to an end with a 4-2 victory over neighbouring Netherlands, extending the Red Devils’ unbeaten run at home to nine, while Slovenia secured their first victory over Romania in six years, winning 4-3.

No fewer than four African teams have achieved their highest-ever FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking position: Mali (32nd, up 7), Libya (36th, up 2), Central African Republic (64th, up 7) and South Sudan (197th, up 2).

Ghana: 31 (World); 3 (CAF)
Malawi: 90 (World); 24 (CAF)

Did Mark Twain say “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog” ?

Posted from  United States

Ghana sent a spy to monitor Malawi in Liberia friendly – MTN

Malawi played against Liberia in a friendly Ghana Football Association technical director Francis Oti Akenteng spied on Malawi in Tuesday’s friendly against Liberia.

The experienced coach was at the National Complex in Monrovia when the Flames were beaten 1-0 by the Lone Stars.

Akenteng will present a report on Malawi to Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah on their strengths and weaknesses.

The Black Stars host Malawi at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final round first leg qualifier.

The return leg will be played in Lilongwe on 14 October with the winner of the two-legged tie progressing to next January’s finals in South Africa.

Posted from  United States

Boateng – “We are ready for Malawi”

Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng tells Cafonline.com they are ready and poised for action against Malawi in this weekend’s 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations. The 29-year old midfielder has also warned against underrating the abilities of the Southern Africans, not ranked amongst the big guns of African football.

Cafonline.com: How are preparations going for Black Stars’ first leg Orange CAN 2013 qualifier against Malawi this weekend?

Derek Boateng: We are all looking forward to the game. We expect a tough test from the Malawians, just as you would expect from any team that plays against Ghana, they will be eager to make an impact. It is a very important game and we are ready for the test.

Cafonline.com: Do you think the Black Stars have an edge over the Malawians based on the fact that they do not have a high ranking compared to Ghana?

Derek Boateng: We cannot afford to underrate any team, not to even talk of Malawi. I have watched their game against Nigeria, which ended 1-1 and are very much aware of their potential. They showed great quality in that match and we expect same when we meet them. They also possess a remarkable fighting spirit.

Cafonline.com: What impact will the absence of regular captain John Mensah have on your side?

Derek Boateng: John is a great captain and also leader of the team. He will be sorely missed for this game. However, there are other players who are hoping to fill the vacuum created by his absence by delivering a performance which he (John) will be proud of. We are hoping he will be with us for the subsequent games.

Cafonline.com: What kind of result have you set sights on?

Derek Boateng: We are looking forward to a convincing result to boost our chances of qualifying. We have to take our chances very well to remain on course for the results we so much desire. We are very determined to deliver.

Cafonline.com: What are your expectations from this match?

Derek Boateng: I will make no predictions but the most important element is we carrying the day. We play as a unit and we are bent on qualifying for the final tournament next year in South Africa.

Posted from  United States

Malawi will beat Ghana 2-0

Zefaniya, YES Malawi can beat Ghana 2-0 BUT going by the Malawi away record I doubt it. When was the last time Malawi won away? Am sorry to burst your bubble.

Anyway, impossible is nothing. How did bus-parkers Botswana beat Tunisia 1-0 in Tunisia?

Posted from  United States

malawi 2 ghana 1.