More fire!

The Scorchers have vowed to engage an extra gear when they face Egypt at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, in their second Group C Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) this evening. The contest comes four days after the Malawi Women’s National Football Team defied the odds to stun holders and 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in their debut at the women’s continental football safari. An upset that cheered the spirits of a football world that delights in such feel-good stories of an underdog punching above its weight to floor a giant as the Scorchers basked in the global limelight.

But coach Lovemore Fazili and captain Tabitha Chawinga have said it’s time to put that euphoria aside and step up the campaign. Said Fazili: “Now we have to shift our focus to tomorrow’s [today’s] match against Egypt because we need to build on that memomentum by continuing from where we left. “That historic win will count for nothing if we do not do well against Egypt.” Fazili also said they expect a tough match against Cleopatra.

“They are a good side and we need to be cautious in our approach. That said, we are ready for the match. A win could boost our chances of making it to the knockout stages, so there is everything to fight for,” he said.

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On her part, Tabitha said they are aware that Egypt will come out with all their guns blazing after losing their opener 6-0 to Zambia’s Copper Queens. Said the France-based striker: “That they lost to Zambia by a wide margin does not make them a hopeless team. That was a different game and they will be out to recover.

“But we will not ease down a gear, we will fight hard. We are living everything in the hands of God Almighty and out faith is in Him.” The Scorchers’ skipper will lead the frontline alongside her US-based sister Temwa, who meshed potently against the Super Falcons in which Temwa claimed a brace while Tabitha scored the other goal. Another France-based attacker Rose Kabzere and gangly midfielder Faith Chimzimu, are expected to conduct the Scorchers orchestra as they did against Nigeria. Bernadette Mkandawire and Democratic Republic of Congo-based Chimwemwe Madise will marshal the backline.

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