Scorchers’ defining moment

Malawi National Women’s Football Team, the Scorchers, face a defining moment as they open their Cosafa Women’s Championship campaign against hosts South Africa’s Banyana Banyana at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. With only group winners guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals, the Scorchers know that a positive result against the tournament favourites would put them on course for the last eight. Head coach Lovemore Fazili has described the encounter as crucial because of the calibre of the opposition and the fact that it is the opening match.

He said: “The game is very important considering that it’s our first game of the tournament and secondly we are playing South Africa, a team we are together with at Wafcon [Women’s Africa Cup of Nations] finals. “So it is very important. A good result is going to put us on the right track and show us where we are heading in the tournament.” Matches between Scorchers and Banyana have always been intense at the tournament.

In 2020, the two sides clashed in the semi-finals and the hosts won 6-2 in an eight-goal thriller. The two sides met again in 2021 at the tournament and the hosts won 2-1 in the group stage but the Scorchers overturned the loss in the semi-finals by winning 3-2. In 2022, Malawi never made it out of the group stage but returned stronger in the 2023 edition when the Scorchers beat Banyana 4-3 in group stages on their way to the final to win the title after defeating then defending champions Zambia.

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Fazili failed to defend the title in 2024 after losing to Zambia in the semi-finals. The last time Malawi and South Africa clashed was in a two-legged international friendly last April which Malawi lost the first leg 2-1 and the second 3-0. Fazili said the two matches gave them an insight into their opponents” style and tactics.

“Most importantly, the players now know where we went wrong and they understand the strong points of South Africa. Whoever is given a chance to play will put in 100 percent effort.” Fazili has named a strong squad with internationals player Chimwemwe Madise of TP Mazembe, midfielder Tendai Sani of Zambia’s Zisd, Egypt-based Vanessa Chikupila and forward Chisomo Banda of Konkola Blades Queens in Zambia.

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