World Cup Qualifying: Malawi receive keeper’s boost for Liberia match

Malawi national team the Flames welcome the North Africans in the Group H game with a full squad in Lilongwe.

Going into the match, there were fears over the availability of first-choice goalkeeper William Thole.

The Zimbabwe-based keeper was a big doubt for the game after suffering what seemed a serious injury in Friday’s match against Namibia in Botswana.

The Simba Bhora FC’s man was carried off the pitch towards the end of the first half after a rough tackle by Namibia’s Deon Hotto.

Now the good news for the Malawians is that Thole has given a positive update on the abdomen injury.

“Thank God, I am back on my feet. Thanks for the healing wishes. And congratulations to the team for the impressive win,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Thole left the pitch while Malawi led 1-0 courtesy of Richard Mbulu’s fifth minute goal.

The keeper’s injury prompted coach Kalisto Pasuwa to throw George Chikooka into action. The coach eventually told the press that he felt Hotto deserved a red card.

That left the Flames with no other goalkeeper on the technical bench.

The Flames eventually won the game 2-1 after Gabadinho Mhango added the second goal in the 53rd minute.

The victory saw Pasuwa’s men take their tally to nine points from seven games.

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