Mponda says Malawi Flames' COSAFA Cup exit painful experience

Malawi v Angola: Photo Credit: COSAFA media.

Malawi national team assistant coach Peter Mponda has described the Flames' exit from the COSAFA Cup on Tuesday as a painful experience.

The FCB Big Bullets mentor said this in reaction to their 1-0 loss to Angola, which confirmed the Flames' early exit from the tournament in South Africa.

"From the three games that we have played, it has been the same story: playing good football, creating chances, but not taking them. Today it is more painful because we only lost through one set piece, which we didn't defend very well, but that is what happens in football, when you don't take your chances, you get punished," he told COSAFA media.

The only positives from the tournament, according to Mponda, were that the technical panel was able to give exposure to up-and-coming players.

“It was a good tournament, more especially, we are building a new team, we are still building. It gives us a feeling of how it is out there, it also gives exposure to the young ones who are up and coming,” he said.

Randy Nteka's 48th-minute goal sent Angola to the COSAFA Cup semifinals after edging Malawi 1-0 on Tuesday in South Africa.

The Palancas Negras finished top of group B by taking their tally to seven points, while condemning the Flames to the exit door without scoring a goal in their three group stage matches.

Angola joined South Africa in the semi-finals.