The Malawi national football team is expected back home today from Ethiopia where they took part in the on going Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup .
The Flames bowed out of the tournament on Monday by Uganda’s Cranes in Addis Ababa, following a 2-0 loss.
The record 13-time winners Uganda, took the lead in the fifth minute when Farouk Miya headed home a cross from the left flank.
After the goal, the Flames tried to push forward but were kept at bay by the tall Ugandans. Three minutes into the second half, Uganda’s Caeser Okhuti put the game beyond Flames’ reach when he netted the second after being put through by Miya who was named man-of-the-match.
After that goal, the coach withdrew striker Schumacher Kuwali for Nelson Kangunje while Gerald Phiri Jnr paved way for Isaac Kaliati.
At a later stage, defender Miracle Gabeya was also taken off stage for striker Chawanangwa Kaonga, but the Ugandans held on to their lead.
Mtawali attributed the loss to the early goals in both halves.
“It was a difficult situation especially considering that we let in the goals so early. Uganda deserved the win and all the best to them,”he told SuperSport after the match.
After a bright start in the group stages in which they beat Sudan (2-1) and Djibouti (3-0), the Flames faltered in their last group match against South Sudan which they lost 2-0, but still qualified for the quarter-finals as runners-up.
