Furious Malawi boss Maria

Malawi head coach Mario Marinica has vented his fury at Africa Cup of Nations organisers as he believes smaller nations are being treated differently.  

Malawi are preparing for their first ever AFCON last-16 tie, as they take on Morocco, but Marinica and his players do not appear to be enjoying the experience away from the pitch. 

His players have been forced to do their own laundry at the Hotel Valle de Bana in Bafoussam and there have also been problems reported with the food.

‘Certain questions have to be asked; why are these things happening to us, why only to the smaller teams, why only to Comoros, Gambia, us?’

But Marinica feels there is an in-built bias against some of the smaller names that have caused upsets. 

The outspoken Romanian manager has had his laundry done for him but players have been forced to do their own, using bushes to dry their clothing.

Basic commodities have also proven a contentious issue and the Malawi boss has taken the issue up with rivals as he plots a formal complaint.

‘I have asked my fellow colleagues and team leaders to lodge a formal complaint. I complained to the managers of the estate, and at the current hotel we struggled for three days before things were sorted out,’ he continued.

Furious Malawi boss Maria

‘I couldn’t have milk for coffee, they said the milk was finished until tomorrow. We are treated like second-class citizens, but if you’re a hotel manager and you see this happening, you take charge, you can’t allow it in this day and age, at this level of competition.’ 

Malawi midfielder John Banda has since backed up his manager’s claim on the laundry and called on AFCON organisers to provide equal treatment for teams heading into the knockout stages.