Scorchers in first test

The Scorchers have vowed to fight to the end in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) debut against holders and record 10-time champions Nigeria in Morocco tonight. The 18 000-seater Al Medina Stadium in Rabat sets the grand stage for the Malawi Women’s National Football Team maiden continental roar in Group C. With the weather forecast of a gentle breeze coming off the Atlantic coast in the Moroccan capital, it should help calm the Scorchers nerves ahead of what can be dubbed as a David versus Golliath affair.

The Scorchers find themselves facing the might of the heavyweight in their opening game at the women’s African football safari. But while it appears a tall order for Malawi, France-based captain Tabitha Chawinga said they are not losing sleep. “It is no secret that they are the giants of African women’s football, obviously they are the favourites and we are debuntantes, but we will fight,” she was quoted as having said by French football magazine So Foot.

“We are not here to make up the numbers, we are here to compete and see how far we can go. We will not look down upon ourselves.” She also said the underdog tag they are carrying will help take off some pressure. The 30-year-old forward is expected to mesh with her US-based sister Temwa to form one of the deadly combinations at the continental showpiece.

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Sweden-based attacker Faith Chimzimu and striker Rose Kabzere, who plies her trade in the French top-flight league also form part of the Scorchers’ arsenal. Malawi go into this showdown fresh from a 4-0 humiliastion at the hands of Ghana in their final preparatory match, but coach Lovemore Fazili played down the defeat insisting that he rang a number changes to give other players a chance. The Scorchers have played six friendlies in preparation for the tournament, drawing once against Tanzania and losing to Australia, India, Tanzania, Morocco and Ghana.

They also participated at the 2025 Women’s Cosafa Cup where they won twice and lost once. Nigeria coach Justin Madugu was quoted by Sports247 as having said that his squad will not find it easy at the tournament because they have in their possession what every other team wants, the cup, but insisted Nigeria is still the side to beat.

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