Red-hot Mhango seals Malawi win over South Sudan

Gabadinho Mhango of Malawi

Wednesday Nov 13, 2019. 17:00

In-form striker Gabadinho Mhango netted a second half goal as Malawi overcome a stubborn South Sudan to claim a 1-0 victory in their 2021 Africa Cup of nations Group B clash in Blantyre on Wednesday.

Mhango scored on consecutive weekends for his South African club Orlando Pirates against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, and has continued that form with another goal in national team colours.

It was a deserved victory for The Flames, even if they were made to work hard for it, and they will now travel away to Malawi for their next match on Sunday. South Sudan host Burkina Faso on the same day.

Malawi showed an early indication of their quality when forward Richard Mbulu played the ball into the path of Mhango, but the latter’s shot curled narrowly wide of goal.

Mhango’s pace was a threat all afternoon and he beat two defenders before playing on a perfect pass to Mbulu, but South Sudan defender Yach Mayom Bol made a timely interception.

The first half ended goalless, but Malawi continued to press forward in the second half and after Mbulu fired over, he then tested goalkeeper Majak Maling Mawith with a rasping shot.

The deadlock was finally broken after 68 minutes as Mhango controlled a long pass from goalkeeper Brighton Munthali, skipped past a defender and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net.