Menzi Magubane
Malawi’s coach Mario Marinica kicked up a storm after a game week, accusing African coaches of being cheats and telling an opposition player he hopes he breaks his leg.
“African referees will not officiate at the World Cup because of cheating,” raged the Romanian coach after his team drew 1-1 with Eswatini and were eliminated in group stages of the Cosafa Cup in Durban.
The coach also attacked Eswatini player Sabelo Ndzinisa after he was awarded a penalty leaving the Romanian coach fuming in his dugout.
“As for the player, I hope you break your leg and not go far in your career,” he said.
His remarks could attract the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee which may well summon him to come and answer for it.
Meanwhile, CAF have confirmed that Marinica and his Malawian team are through to the second round of the 2022 Chan qualifiers without even kicking a ball after Zimbabwe’s failure to get their Fifa suspension lifted.
The Flames were drawn with Zimbabwe in the first round of the qualifiers. At first CAF had indicated that the fixture would go ahead only if Zimbabwe’s Fifa ban is lifted two weeks before the first match which was scheduled for 23 July 23.
On Tuesday CAF sent a letter to the Malawi Football Association confirming the new developments.
“Unfortunately the association of Zimbabwe did not fulfil the criteria set by Fifa congress and it is still under suspension.
“Therefore, we hereby confirm that the clause indicated in the draw procedures is applied: In case Zimbabwe FA suspension is not lifted two weeks before its first match, it will be considered as the loser and eliminated from the competition,” the letter said.
The letter further stated that all the matches of Zimbabwe in the frame of the first round of Chan 2022 qualifiers are now cancelled and consequently Malawi has qualified for the second round of the competition.
The Flames will now face the winner of Zambia and Mozambique in the second round of the qualifiers.
Image source: @SportsNewsAfrica
