Crucial three-pointer for Malawi and Zimbabwe

A massive three points will be on offer when Malawi and Zimbabwe lock horns in an Africa Cup of Nations Group B encounter at the Kouekong Stadium on Friday.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The Flames began their adventure in Cameroon with a 1-0 defeat to Guinea on Monday, when Issiaga Sylla's 35th-minute goal proved to be the difference in Bafoussam.

Mario Marinica's side still have tournament favourites Senegal to contend with next week so picking up a three-point haul against the Southern Africans will be crucial to their chances of advancing from the group.

Yamikani Chester and Khuda Muyaba led the line against the National Elephants last time out, but Marinica could turn to Richard Mbulu from the start after he came off the bench in their first match.

Speaking ahead of the showpiece event, Marinica said his youthful squad were looking to gain invaluable experience, but set them a target of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in the country's history.

"Our objective is to go to the second round," the Romanian tactician told CAF Online. "Malawi is a young team who will come to learn.

We are confident that we will do our best and why not aim for further. We hope our players will give the best for themselves and then for the country ."

The Warriors will also be desperate to get their Afcon campaign up and running after losing 1-0 to the Lions of Teranga in dramatic fashion on Monday courtesy of Sadio Mane's stoppage-time penalty.

Norman Mapeza's troops were just seconds away from claiming a point in their group opener when the referee pointed to the spot after Peter Muduhwa handled Fode Ballo-Toure's shot inside the box.

Knowledge Musona and Kundai Benyu missed training on Wednesday through illness and injury respectively, but the medical team are hard at work to ensure the duo will be available for selection on Friday.

"It's only that we are being cautious as we need all the players to be available for selection in the match against Malawi," Zimbabwe team manager Wellington Mpandare was quoted as saying by the Herald.

"You know how important that match is and the technical team is well-equipped to deal with the match if all the players are available. We hope and pray they will be fine in time for the game."

Neither team has made it beyond the group stages before, with Malawi failing in two previous attempts (1984 and 2010) and Zimbabwe on four occasions (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019).

This will be the 13th meeting between the two nations. The Flames have come out on top just twice compared to seven victories for the Warriors.

Their last clash was in the Cosafa Cup last year which finished in a 2-2 draw.