Egyptians in Blantyre
June 14
Just when you think you've seen everything this country has to offer, you end up somewhere like a football match. And not just any match either. Malawi versus Egypt, the current Africa Cup title holders, in a World Cup qualifier. By all accounts it was to be a whitewash - the Malawi Flames being no match for the professional outfit of the Pharoahs, even if it was on our home turf. But that didn't stop thousands upon thousands of energetic locals finding their way into Kamuzu Stadium for a day of singing and tension to spur the local team on.
A 0-0 draw would have been nice given how much Malawi had thrown at the Egyptians without any reward, saving some face against the strongest of their group before the return leg in Cairo. After all, Malawi had disposed of the struggling Djibouti 8-1 two weeks earlier at the same ground, then held themselves to a respectable 1-0 defeat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Then, three and a half minutes into stoppage time, several spectators already pouring out to beat the rush, with the ref 30 seconds from blowing his whistle for the final time, the red, 
black and green slotted through an incredible goal, and the crowds went completely insane. Malawi had just knocked off the single strongest football nation on the continent, and the eruption in the shoulder to shoulder stands was nothing short of apocalyptic in celebration. The rhythmic dancing and jumping, indescribable to watch, looked as though it would collapse all four stands simultanouesly, and no doubt the roar could be heard kilometres from the ground. If there's one thing these guys no how to do, it's party when things are good. And right that second, they weren't getting any better.
black and green slotted through an incredible goal, and the crowds went completely insane. Malawi had just knocked off the single strongest football nation on the continent, and the eruption in the shoulder to shoulder stands was nothing short of apocalyptic in celebration. The rhythmic dancing and jumping, indescribable to watch, looked as though it would collapse all four stands simultanouesly, and no doubt the roar could be heard kilometres from the ground. If there's one thing these guys no how to do, it's party when things are good. And right that second, they weren't getting any better.I've seen hysteria at football grounds, whether an Australia-Uruguay qualifyier several years ago which we took 1-0, or an Aussie Rules match when 90,000 strong lift the roof of the stadium at the start of a game, but nothing quite comes close to the frenetic, almost-surreal chantings of a stadium full of Africans. This was most definitely one to remember for a very long time to come.
MA-LA-WI! MA-LA-WI! MA-LA-WI! OLE... OLE, OLE, OLE... OLE... OLE!
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