Malawi - Nigeria Preview: Flames tackle Super Eagles in Blantyre

With three points accrued from the 1-0 win over Namibia, the Super Eagles will hope to consolidate first place in the group with a positive result in Blantyre.

 Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri has said that the Super Eagles will have their wings clipped on Saturday in Blantyre.

 That being said, it is now left for the Nigerians to show that talking has to be done on the pitch. Against Namibia last Sunday, the Eagles created numerous chances but could not score more than the one goal which was enough to claim all three points. But against a very young and mobile Flames side led by Russel Mwafulirwa, the Eagles will have to increase their conversion rate if they are to get the desired result – a win.  

The Malawian Flames are definitely buoyed by their credible 0-0 result achieved in Nairobi last week and match reports said that they dominated the bigger Kenyans, so a stronger physique is not the solution for their plan.

 "These boys may look small, but they are very intelligent and very fit and no team can play around with them," Phiri said after their draw against Kenya. "We have upset Egypt, DR Congo and Guinea at home - so Nigeria can be another victim." The Eagles must be patient and make sure that in the last third, the speed of passing must substantially increase.

And as Malawi are at home, the possibility is that they will be offensive and that will allow the Eagles more space even though Stephen Keshi will likely be more conservative by resting one of the strikers used against Namibia and replace them with a midfielder which could be Raheem Lawal.

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