CHAN qualifying: "Flames gave Bafana Bafana goals"—Peter Mponda

Malawi National Football team assistant coach Peter Mponda insists the Flames gave away cheap goals to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their 2-0 defeat on Sunday.

Mponda spoke to the press in a post-match interview after the Flames lost to Bafana Bafana in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying round, second leg match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

He said Malawi did not deserve to exit the competition after winning the first leg 1-0 in Lilongwe the previous weekend.

“The result is not a true reflection of the game. I believe we played very well and tried to contain them in terms of possession in the first 45 minutes,” he said.

“Yes, South Africa were a bit better than us in the first half as they created a number of chances. However, in the second half, we were on top of them, although we were not keeping the ball in the spaces where we could hurt them. In terms of possession, we were on top of them. We gave away the goals.  They were easy goals. We should have gone to penalties and won the game with the goal we scored in Malawi.”

The Flames were without head coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who was taken ill on the eve of the game, according to media reports.

Mponda took charge of Malawi who failed to hold on to their first leg lead as they succumbed to Victor Letsoalo and Neo Maema’s goals. Bafana Bafana are through to the CHAN finals scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August.