Fallout Continues After Mandla Ncikazi's Comments Suggesting That PSL Is Bigger Than African Cup of Nations

• Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi's comments about the Premier Soccer League possibly being bigger than the African Cup of Nations have come back to bite him
• Whether he was joking or not, he was quoted verbatim saying that red-hot Malawian striker was left out of recent Pirates game because of it
• Some heavyweights within the Malawian game did not take kindly to this, encouraging Mhango to leave the Buccaneers

It appears that Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi's off-handed comments about the Premier Soccer League and African Cup of Nations have gone down like a bad egg.

Ncikazi suggested that the PSL was bigger than AFCON to contextualise why red-hot Malawian striker Gabadinho Mhango was left out of a recent Pirates match. Mhango had just come back from an excellent and historic performance for the Flames in Cameroon.

It has not been established if he was being serious or not, but KickOff quoted Ncikazi as saying:

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"Mhango will wait like all other players. We recognise and acknowledge his performance at the Afcon but maybe the league in South Africa is bigger than the Afcon, but that is a question for another day."

Malawian assistant coach Meck Mwase fired back at Ncikazi, saying that Mhango must seriously consider departing from the Buccaneers, keeping focused in the process. He also took the chance to aim a dig at Bafana Bafana in the process.

According to Goal.com, Mwase said:

"He must not challenge the coach but continue working hard. It will be good if he can switch teams. It is unfortunate that the coach is belittling Afcon when South Africa didn’t qualify."

Football Association of Malawi's National Coaches Association chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni joined in on the pile-on.

He told the Malawian Times:

“It just shows that some officials do not want him at Pirates. This was a time to get the best out of him. The best Gaba [Mhango] can do is to continue working hard and, at the same time, request his manager to secure him a move, even if it be a loan move."

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Malawian Gabadinho Mhango's AFCON 2021 Goal of The Tournament contender captures world football's attention

World football reverberated because of Malawi forward Gabadinho Mhango's outrageous goal against Morocco at the African Cup of Nations.

As reported on Sports Brief, the Orlando Pirates poacher appeared determined to underline his remarkable inclusion in the FIFA 22 Ultimate Team of the Week with a hit worthy of this accolade.

Mhango's goal came in the seventh minute of the match, with the striker receiving the ball from John Banda from inside Malawi's own half. The striker took that pass and cut towards goal before rifling a shot from 35 metres out.