Scorchers will play another international friendly match in June Fifa international window against Morocco, The Nation understands.
The international friendly will be an unprecedented fifth consecutive match for the Scorchers in 2025.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Alfred Gunda in an interview yesterday confirmed that they are arranging the trip to Morocco.
He said: “Yes, we are planning that the Scorchers should play another international friendly match in the June international window. We are planning for the team to play Morocco. They are preparing for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [Wafcon] which they will host in June while we are preparing for the 2026 edition qualifiers.”
Gunda said the international friendly matches bear testimony to the association’s commitment to the Scorchers, who previously used to stay idle for over a year.
He said: “We are growing women’s game. We need to be part of the global movement of promoting women’s football. For that to happen, we need to play some of the best teams in the world and, take part in all big competitions.”
In March, the Scorchers played back-to-back international friendly matches against Zambia’s Copper Queens, losing the first 2-0 before recovering to stun the hosts 3-2 in Lusaka.
Last week, the Scorchers lost twice (3-0, 2-1) to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in two strength testing matches in Johannesburg.
The Scorchers are preparing for the 2026 Wafcon qualifiers second round tie against Angola in October.
Malawi qualified for the second round after their opponent Congo Brazaville withdrew from the competition.
Angola, on the other hand, knocked out Zimbabwe 5-4 in post-match penalties following a 3-3 tie in the two-legged qualifier. The winner will qualify for the finals.
Gunda said FAM is confident that the team will be ready for the qualifiers despite the results in the friendly matches.
He said: “These international friendly matches are aimed at helping Scorchers prepare for the qualifiers. They are aimed at helping us identify our weaknesses and perfect them.
“Mind you, these girls are young and we are trying to expose them to high level competitions. Most of them are new. Basically, it is a young squad.”
Scorches coach Lovemore Fazili thanked FAM for the international friendlies, saying they will have no excuse.
He said: “We have learned a lot from these matches. They have helped us assess out strengths and weaknesses. We are going to rectify the weaknesses.”
In a related development, Fifa and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that the 2028 Olympic Games women’s football tournaments will have 16 women’s football teams and 12 men’s sides.
Initially, 16 men’s teams used to take part in the football tournament while women had 12.
Fifa in a statement said the change is a global endorsement of the women’s football.
The statement reads in part: “Fifa is pleased with the decision taken by the Executive Board of the IOC to approve a proposal for 16 women’s and 12 men’s teams to participate in the Olympic Football Tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a major milestone for the women’s game and a powerful endorsement of women’s sport.
“The expansion of the women’s tournament reflects the shared commitment of Fifa, the IOC and LA28 to elevate women’s sport, celebrate the strength of the women’s game in the United States and continue to open doors for more players and more nations on the world stage.”
On his part Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: “Our vision is clear: we are investing in and expanding opportunities for women’s football at every level.
“More teams on the Olympic stage means more role models, more inspiration and more impact.This development reflects our shared understanding that women’s football deserves greater representation and visibility at the Olympic Games.
“We thank the IOC for the fruitful discussions that will make LA28 a ground-breaking event, and we will continue to work with our partners to incorporate futsal and beach soccer into the Olympic programme.”
The change also follows Fifa Women’s World Cup expansion from 24 to 32 teams.
