Malawi exact revenge on disappointing Algeria

Algeria were handed a World Cup reality check when supposed minnows Malawi meted out a 3-0 thrashing to the Desert Foxes in the Africa Cup of Nations here on Monday.Malawi were whipped 3-0 by Algeria on their only previous appearance in this competition 26 years ago.But thanks to Russel Mwafulirwa, Ivis Kafoteka and Davie Banda, it was Algeria who were on the wrong side of a lopsided scoreline this time around.After Sunday's 4-4 draw between Angola and Mali these three points put Malawi in a strong position to make it out of Group A and into the quarter-finals.

Algeria were handed a World Cup reality check when supposed minnows Malawi meted out a 3-0 thrashing to the Desert Foxes in the Africa Cup of Nations here on Monday.Malawi were whipped 3-0 by Algeria on their only previous appearance in this competition 26 years ago.But thanks to Russel Mwafulirwa, Ivis Kafoteka and Davie Banda, it was Algeria who were on the wrong side of a lopsided scoreline this time around.After Sunday's 4-4 draw between Angola and Mali these three points put Malawi in a strong position to make it out of Group A and into the quarter-finals.

Mali have lodged an official protest over what they describe as "the complete non-match" between Angola and Algeria which knocked them out of the Africa Cup of Nations.The hosts and Algeria played out a goalless draw on Monday to send both sides into the quarter-finals from Group A at the expense of Mali.Angola finished top on five points with algeria second on four.Stephen Keshi's side finished level with Algeria after beating Malawi 3-1 on Monday but were squeezed out having lost 1-0 to the Desert Foxes last week.

Algeria gave their hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations' quarter-finals a significant shot in the arm here Thursday with a 1-0 win over Mali.It moved the World Cup qualifiers on to three points in Group A, level with Malawi who play Angola later. The hosts and Mali are on one apiece.Algeria coach Rabah Saadane made two switches from the team routed 3-0 by Malawi on Monday, with Rafik Saifi and Samir Zaoui making way for Yassine Bezzaz and Abdelkadar Laifaoui.

Malawi, who claimed the scalp of World Cup qualifiers Algeria on Monday, are intent on dishing out the same treatment to Angola when they meet the Africa Cup of Nations' hosts here on Thursday.In only their second ever appearance in the competition Malawi go into the game as the surprise leaders of Group A, ahead of Angola and Mali with Algeria footing the table.Positive results in their warm-up matches proved no flash in the pan judged by the way they whipped the Algerians 3-0, and coach Kinnah Phiri is looking for more of the same.

Angola avoided another Mali-style collapse to beat Malawi 2-0 and move to the top of Africa Cup of Nations Group A here on Thursday.The 2010 hosts put the trauma of seeing a four-goal lead evaporate in the last quarter of an hour of their opening game behind them with goals from Flavio and Manucho.The result put Angola on four points with Malawi and Algeria on three and Mali, beaten 1-0 by the Algerians in Thursday's first match, propping up the table on one point.

World Cup qualifiers Algeria loom next for miracle workers Mali who stunned hosts Angola to fight back for an improbable 4-4 draw in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations' curtain-raiser in Luanda.Star-studded Mali looked down and out after Angola cruised to a 4-0 lead with 16 minutes on the clock.But substitute Seydou Keita and Frederic Kanoute put them back in business in normal time with Keita again and Mustapha Yattabare grabbing the point in injury time.

A farcical mix-up by Africa Cup of Nations' organisers in Angola left Mali fuming when they were locked out of a scheduled training session because the Algeria team had beaten them into the stadium.Algeria turned up at the Escoqueirus Stadium in Luanda and gained immediate access on Friday afternoon, but waiting reporters were astonished when, a quarter of an hour later, the Mali team bus rounded a corner and parked outside the stadium.