The Scorchers will fly to Morocco today for an international friendly with a spring in their step after France-based striker Tabitha Chawinga joined the travelling squad yesterday.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee has become the second foreign-based star to join the Malawi women’s football team ahead of the international match in Casablanca after France-based midfielder Rose Kabzere.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka yesterday confirmed the arrival of the Olympic Lyon women’s star.
He said other overseas players such as Kazakhstan-based duo of striker Vanessa Chikupira and defender Bernadette Kumwenda and Georgia-based forward Sabina Thom might join the team in Morocco.
Meanwhile, Tabitha’s sister Temwa, who plays for United States of America club Kansas City Current and Democratic Republic of Congo-based defender Chimwemwe Madise, who plays for TP Mazembe, have been ruled out due to club commitments.
Tabitha was not available for comment yesterday, but Scorchers’ coach Lovemore Fazili has described her presence as a big boost to the team.
The Scorchers are expected to use the Morocco friendly to prepare for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers’ final qualification round against Angola in October.
Malawi qualified for the second round after their opponents Congo Brazaville withdrew from the competition.
The international friendly will be Malawi’s fifth in 2025 as they also played against Zambia and South Africa twice each in February and April, respectively.
In their first match against Copper Queens, the Scorchers lost 2-0 before registering a 3-2 victory in the second match. Against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, the Scorchers lost 3-0 and 2-1.
