The Malawi National Schools Girls’ Football Team is confident of making first impression at the CAF African Schools Championship Finals in Accra, Ghana as they begin their campaign against Benin this afternoon.
Malawi coach Bridget Chirwa said this after a draw conducted on Monday pitted her team in Group A alongside Benin, Morocco and hosts Ghana.
This will be the first time the national schools girls’ team has qualified for the continental finals.
South Africa were supposed to be the only qualified team from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) after winning the 2024/25 regional qualifiers, but Malawi were given a berth for being runners-up because South Africa automatically qualified as the continental championship’s title holders.
Similarly, Benin qualified for the continental championship finals as runners-up in the West African Football Union (Wafu) qualifiers as the union’s champions, Ghana, are the hosts.
Chirwa said they prepared the girls for all the teams that qualified and she has confidence in her side.
She said: “We have been preparing for every team at the competition. In our group, we know Ghana will have a home advantage and support, but our girls will remain focused on the mission.”
Chirwa said the weather in Ghana is hotter compared to Malawi, but her charges have now acclimatised.
“It was hard for the girls during the loosening session yesterday [Sunday] as they were tired due to a long flight. But they are now coping and we are confident of producing good results,” she said.
After today’s match, Malawi will play two group matches tomorrow. They face Morocco at noon before taking on Ghana in their last group fixture at 4pm.
Semi-finals are scheduled for Friday before the third and fourth classification play-offs and the final on Saturday.
