Malawi Under-17 Girls National Football Team rising star Faluna Umali has set the pace in the chase for the Cosafa Under-17 Girls’ Championship in Windhoek, Namibia, as she tops the scorers’ chart with four goals from two matches.
Before yesterday’s fixtures, her teammate Alinafe Nyirenda and Zambian Ruth Mukoma were tied on second place with two goals apiece.
On Sunday, Umali scored a hat-trick and was named player of the match as Malawi thrashed Comoros 6-0 to top Group A with six unassailable points from two emphatic victories and became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.
She also scored once as Malawi thumped hosts Namibia 3-0 in the opener on Saturday.
During her inaugural appearance at the competition last year, the Mighty Wanderers Queens midfielder had two goals to her name, 11 behind eventual golden boot winner Zambian Mercy Chipasula.
In an interview, Umali said her target is to score at least 10 goals in this year’s edition.
“It has been a great start to the competition and we would like to keep up the momentum as we head into the semi-finals this Friday,” she said.
“But while I strive to help my team progress to the final, I also have some personal goals to settle and winning the golden boot is an ideal target.”
As one of Malawi’s seven players that have returned to the competition after making their debut appearance last year, the resident of Bangwe Township in Blantyre believes it is now time to make the nation proud.
Malawi has qualified for the semi-finals for the second time, having last achieved that feat in 2022 when they won bronze.
Malawi did not enter the first three editions and the tournament was not played in 2023.
Last year, Malawi failed to make the last-four stage as Umali donned the country’s flag alongside fellow returnees Joyce Makweya, Emily Samuel, Bridget Afiki, Jacqueline Kamputa, Thokozani Enock and Ethel Tambala.
“Some of the players in the squad and I have international experience. We will do our best to put that to perfect use and make Malawi proud,” she said.
For Malawian Umali, whose idol is France-based striker Rose Kabzere, achieving success with the Under-17 girls national team will not only help her attract attention from top foreign clubs , but also inspire fellow girls in her community to take women’s football seriously.
“I come from a community where many girls engage in promiscuity. I would like to play a leading role in inspiring them to love football and stop doing things that can ruin their lives,” said Umali, who started playing football at the age of seven.
According to Cosafa website, Malawi will this Friday face the best runner-up across the three groups in the semi-finals, unless that team also comes from their group.
Yesterday, Mozambique faced Mauritius in Group B while Botswana took on Zimbabwe in Group C.
