Scorchers set for e-Swatini clash

The Malawi National Women’s Football Team say they are ready for their second HollywoodBets Cosafa Women’s Championship Group A match against e-Swatini this afternoon.

The two teams, who are joint leaders in the group with three points apiece, face-off at  Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto Township, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Coach Lovemore Fazili said her charges are determined to register their second successive win after beating hosts and record seven-time champions South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 3-4 in their opening match on Wednesday.

However, the coach said he has warned her charges against complacency.

Fazili said much as they beat South Africa, who were their main threat in the group, e-Swatini won’t be a pushover.

“The girls are good to go, but we have warned them against underrating e-Swatini because in football anything can happen and they can surprise us,” he said.

The coach also said their target is to score as many goals as they can.

“During training, we have also been working on our defensive frailties that were noted during the game against South Africa,” said Fazili.

The Scorchers go into this afternoon’s encounter oozing confidence after beating hosts and record seven-time champions Banyana Banyana in their opening game on Wednesday while e-Swatini edged Madagascar 2-1.

Scorchers stand-in captain Temwa Chawinga, who claimed a hat-trick and was named player-of-the-match against Banyana, said winning the game by a deluge of goals could help them make the semi-final grade with a game to spare.

“Our plan is to reach the knock-out stages and, therefore, today’s match is a must-win for us. As players, we know we have a big responsibility to make Malawi proud and we are ready for the challenge,” she said.

Winners in  the three groups and the best runner-up across the groups will qualify for the last-four stage.

This is the first time that two sides are facing off in the regional tournament, but the Scorchers have a statistical advantage as they are 159th on Fifa rankings against e-Swatini’s 176.

Scorchers, who stuttered in the group stages last year, have also reached the semis twice and the final once in their last five Cosafa appearances whereas e-Swatini are yet to cross the group stage after eight appearances.

After today’s match, Malawi will take on Madagascar in their last group match on Tuesday while e-Swatini will be up against South Africa.