The Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili believes an international friendly against one of the teams that qualified for 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) during the June International Fifa window can help the team better tune up for the continental showpiece.
The June window will be the last international match calendar before the 16-team Wafcon finals roll into action in Rabat, Morocco in June.
Fazili said the Scorchers’ learned a lot from their 5-0 loss to Australia and 3-2 defeat by India during the Fifa Women’s Series in Kenya last week but, if an opportunity rises, they will still need
another friendly match to tighten the loose ends before the Morocco trip.
“One of the Wafcon qualified teams can give us a good test in the final phase of our preparations for the continental tournament. We keep fingers crossed to see such an opportunity coming our way,” said Fazili.
Apart from Malawi and hosts Morroco, other teams that qualified for the Wafcon are Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, Algeria, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.
Malawi is in the same group with neighbours Zambia, defending champions Nigeria as well as Egypt and Fazili ruled out playing against the trio.
Fazili added that the availability of Chawinga sisters France-based Tabitha and US-based Temwa, who missed the series due to injuries, could make a big difference in Morocco.
“With a full squad, we can move mountains. In any battle, there are certain weapons you bank on for glory and the two sisters are among such arsenal,” said Fazili.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka yesterday said the association will plan accordingly to keep the Scorchers active during the June Fifa window.
“The next Fifa window will be crucial because it will be the last
before the Wafcon finals. If you have noted, FAM has always made sure the Scorchers play matches during every Fifa window and it will be vital to utilise the June window, being the last before the Wafcon finals,” he said.
The Wafcon finals will double as the African qualifiers for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil with the semi-finalists directly making the grade and two more teams advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Nigeria are Wafcon defending champions after beating Morocco 3-2 in the 2024 final in Rabat.
