Scorchers ready for Wafcon—Fazili

Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili says he believes the team is ready for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) scheduled for Morocco from March 17 to April 3. The Malawi Women’s National Football Team gaffer said his confidence stems from the Scorchers’ performance at the on-going Cosafa Women’s Championship in which they failed to make it past the group stage. Malawi will be making their debut appearance at the continental showpiece in which they have been drawn in the same group with reigning champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Zambia’s Copper Queens and Egypt’s Cleopatras.

“We have learnt a lot from the tournament that will help us tune-up for Wafcon. Many players have given me the reason to believe that we are on track. We are looking forward to the tournament, I am happy with the performance” he said.

“I believe we have done well. The defence was solid and when Europe-based players join us, we will be ready.” Fazili said he will negotiate with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that the team should not break camp as only three weeks remain in the countdown to the tournament. FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka said there is already a plan in place that the Scorchers should not break camp.

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“We will ensure that they get full support as they step up their preparations for Wafcon,” he said. Zakazaka also said they are keenly following the progress and condition of foreign-based players. At the regional tournament, Malawi bowed out in the group stage after finishing second in Group A with six points, a point behind hosts South Africa.

The Scorchers lost their opening match 2-0 to Banyana Banyana, but went on to win their next games against Lesotho 8-1 and Angola 1-0, but could still not make it as the best runners-up. Malawi were without overseas-based players such as France-based strikers Tabitha Chawinga and Rose Kabzere, US-based forward Temwa Chawinga and Sweden-based attacker Faith Chimzimu. Morocco-based striker Sabina Thom and Asimenye Simwaka who is on a two year Olympics scholarship training in Portugal, were also not part of the squad. But four others, Egypt-based Vanessa Chikupira, defender Chimwemwe Madise, who is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia-based attackers Tendai Sani and Chisomo Banda were part of the squad.

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