Tabitha’s Lyonnais in Champs League semis

France-based Malawi women’s football star Tabitha Chawinga played a key role as her team Olympique Lyon Women on Thursday night booted out Wolfsburg 4-1 on aggregate to set up a Uefa Women’s Champions League semi-final with holders Arsenal Women. Eight-time winners Lyon overturned a first-leg 1-0 deficit to eliminate the German outfit with a 4-0 thumping. Tabitha stepped off the bench to score the last goal via a fine individual effort in added time.

Arsenal will be at home in the first leg of the semi-final on either April 25 or 26, with the second leg in France a week later. In an interview yesterday, Tabitha said: “We thank God Almighty for the victory, he was on our side and we deservedly got the result we needed to take us through.” On the prospects of facing the reigning champions, she said: “We anticipate an exciting and tough match and we know the importance of the game.”