TotalEnergies AFCON 2023: Guinea qualify as draw ends Ethiopia, Malawi hopes
Guinea secured their place at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023 on Tuesday thanks to the 0-0 draw between Ethiopia and Malawi.
In a crucial Group D qualifier, Ethiopia and Malawi battled to a goalless draw at the Maputo Stadium in Mozambique, ending the hopes of both sides in their quest to qualify for the competition.
The real story of the day unfolded elsewhere, as Guinea, the Syli National, secured their spot in the prestigious tournament without even stepping onto the pitch.
Heading into the match, both the Walia Ibex and the Flames desperately needed to win as they were tied in Group D, with three points apiece. Guinea were second with nine points.
With just one match remaining, this stalemate effectively ended any hopes of qualification for both Ethiopia and Malawi, guaranteeing Guinea the second-place finish in the group.
For Malawi, the equation was straightforward - a victory would have kept their dreams of a CAF TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations qualification alive.
It would have set up a thrilling "final" showdown against Guinea on the last day of qualifying, offering them a chance to secure a place in the continental tournament as Egypt had already secured the top spot of the group with an unassailable 12 points.
The Flames started the match with determination, creating several scoring opportunities against the already eliminated Ethiopian side.
However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by a resolute Ethiopian defence. Despite dominating possession and launching relentless attacks, Malawi struggled to find the breakthrough they desperately needed.
During halftime, Malawi coach Patrick Mabedi made tactical changes, hoping to inject fresh attacking impetus. Ngaluwa, Chirwa, Mphasi, and Salima were brought on to replace Mbulu, Kaonga, Chester, and Idana.
Unfortunately for the Red and Black brigade, their substitutes couldn't alter the scoreline, and the match ended in a frustrating draw.
This result, though disappointing for Malawi, proved to be a cause for celebration for Guinea. The draw ensured their qualification as the fifteenth team to secure a spot in the final phase of the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations.
As the final round of qualifiers approaches, Malawi and Ethiopia will now shift their focus to finishing the campaign on a positive note.
However, with Egypt already claiming the top spot in Group D with an unbeatable 12 points, the battle for second place and a potential spot in the tournament has effectively come to an end.