President Peter Mutharika yesterday rewarded the Malawi Women’s National Football Team players with K5 million each for the team’s impressive performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco.
First Lady Gertrude Mutharika delivered the congratulatory message from the President to the Scorchers during a luncheon which she hosted for the team yesterday at the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
The Scorchers, appearing at the tournament for the first time, finished as runners up to Cameroon after losing 3-0 in the final on Sunday.
They also qualified for the 2027 Brazil Fifa Women’s World Cup as semi-finalists.
In her speech, the First Lady said the President was overjoyed by the Scorchers’ performance.
She also acknowledged the need for more support for the Scorchers ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil next year, but did not make a solid promise on the same.
Instead, Mutharika said that as the time for the tournament approaches, she will team up with other stakeholders to garner support for the team.
Said the First Lady: “As we prepare for the World Cup, I would like to encourage other stakeholders, including parliamentarians, the mayor and others, to come together and contribute towards the team’s support.”
On her part, the Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga thanked the First Lady for her support.
However, the France-based forward said the team can do more if given necessary support.
Tabitha said if the Scorchers finished as runners-up at the team’s debut Wafcon, it is possible to do wonders at the World Cup tournament.
Said Chawinga: “We were not given a chance even back home here, but we managed to fight our way to the finals.
“We are excited and we are appealing for support so that we can prepare well for the next year’s World Cup tournament.”
She argued that if the country can invest in women’s football, it has potential to bring much-needed foreign exchange currency in the country as demonstrated by $750 000 Wafcon runners up prize money.
Tabitha also said the Scorchers’ foreign-based players are already channelling into the country forex from their international clubs earnings.
Meanwhile, the Scorchers’ official sponsors National Bank of Malawi plc said that they always believed in the team’s ability to win.
Speaking at the luncheon, the bank’s board chairperson Grant Kabango said that there is economic potential in women’s football.
He also pledged the bank’s commitment to women’s football, saying “we remain fully committed to walking beside you as you prepare to conquer the world”.
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya said they are reaping the fruits of women’s football investments.
The Scorchers defeated 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2, Egypt 3-1 and lost 2-1 to neighbours Zambia, but still finished as Group C winners to qualify for the quarter-finals where they triumphed 2-1 against Ghana.
In the semi-finals, the Scorchers won 2-1 against Algeria.
