Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili has warned the team’s possible opponents in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) second round qualifiers Zimbabwe or Angola to brace for a tough match.
The tactician fired the warning shot on Tuesday after the Scorchers put up a vintage performance to edge Zambia’s Copper Queens 2-3 at Reiz Arena in Lusaka, Zambia.
In a post-match interview, Fazili said beating highly-rated Zambia, ranked fourth in Africa, is not a mean achievement and that other teams should expect no mercy.
He said: “We have beaten Zambia, not just an ordinary Zambia which we meet at Cosafa Women’s Championship. We are talking of a Zambia squad with all their stars, including [US-based Orlando Pride’s] Barbra Banda, who is the reigning Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year. You cannot talk of Zambia without mentioning Barbara. But we have beaten them.”
The coach said considering the performance of his team, he has no doubts that they are ready for any team.
“I can confidently say we are 95 percent ready of any team or competition,” he said.
The match was the last of two Fifa international friendlies for the rivals after the hosts triumphed in the first one played on Saturday and Sunday at the same venue.
The results meant the two sides have shared spoils as the Copper Queens won the first game 2-0 which was played over two days after it was abandoned on Saturday due to heavy downfall.
But on Tuesday Scorchers, who missed US-based Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga after she returned to her base, turned the tables.
The hosts who took the lead in the fifth minute through Kundananji, but the Scorchers turned it around by scoring three goals in the second-half through Rose Kabzere, Sabina Thom and Faith Chimzimu before the hosts pulled one back through Rachael Nachula.
Fazili said the victory proved that Malawi has a strong side capable of overcoming any team on the continent.
“The message to other team such as Angola and Zimbabwe who we will meet in the Wafcon second round to be prepared for us or we will embarrass them,” he said.
On her part, Zambia’s Nora Häuptle took responsibility of the loss, her first since taking over as Copper Queens head coach early this year, saying she made tactical miscalculations in the second-half.
She said: “I take it on me. We entered the second-half and I wanted to add something offensive. We switched to a 4-4-2 [formation], so we brought a second striker on the pitch.
“I know sometimes when you play possession football, there could be an error and they could punish you, [but] it is a learning process we need to allow the players.”
Zambia are preparing for the delayed 2024 Wafcon finals to be held in Morocco.
Meanwhile, Scorchers yesterday paid a courtesy visit to Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Her Excellency Margaret Kamoto, before their return to Malawi.
