© The Fan Experience Company 2023
Malawi coach Marinica lashes out at home fans who 'cheered for Egypt' during qualifier
Malawi head coach Mario Marinica has lashed out at the country’s fans for showing more support for visiting Egypt and their “superstars” than the home team during their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in Lilongwe.
Malawi lost 4-0 to Egypt on Tuesday – a result which leaves the Flames on the verge of missing out on qualification for next year’s finals in Ivory Coast.
Marinica says Malawi’s task against the seven-time Afcon champions was made all the tougher because of an unpatriotic crowd.
“Let’s just say, I don’t think Malawi loves Malawi, it’s as simple as that,” Marinica told reporters.
“When we came out they cheered for Egypt – they didn’t cheer for Malawi. The Malawi national team is Malawi against everyone, because they [the fans] didn’t seem to like us.”
Malawi had already lost their Group D game in Egypt 2-0 on Friday night, with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet.
Salah was again on target in Malawi – much to the delight, it seems, of the Malawi fans, with Marinica saying the home crowd backed the wrong team.
“When the players came out, and you have a home hero like Gabadinho [Mhango], the fans didn’t cheer. They cheered for Mo Salah and the others.”
The back-to-back defeats against Egypt leave Malawi third in Group D, six points adrift of joint leaders Egypt and Guinea with two rounds of Nations Cup qualifiers remaining.
Marinica says it is now time to rebuild the national team after one of their worst home defeats in recent years.
Original article published 30.03.2023 on the BBC Sport website.
To view the full article, click here