The Scorchers have vowed to go flat out for a win when they face Zambia this evening in Rabat, Morocco despite needing just a point to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) quarter-final.
The Malawi National Football Team go into this final Group C tie with a spring in their step, having secured two straight wins, a 3-2 victory against holders and 10-time champions Super Falcons of Nigeria 3-2 and 3-1 against Egypt, while Zambia’s Copper Queens thumped Egypt’s Cleopatra 6-0 before losing 1-0 to Nigeria.
match. | Courtesy of FAM
The Scorchers, who are making their maiden appearance at the continental showpiece, top the group with six points, three points above second-placed Nigeria and Zambia, who are third.
Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili yesterday said they are aware that
a draw at Al Madina Stadium will see them through, but they will have an attacking mindset to secure a third successive win.
He said they will not take a defensive approach to avoid being caught off-guard.
“We know a loss could put us in a precarious situation and fighting for a draw could be risky. The best way to defend is to attack. So, we will go flat out,” he said.
Fazili said the team is aware of the attacking threats that the Copper Queens pose; hence, the need for caution.
“So, while we will attack, we also have to strike a balance by being cautious at the back,” he said.
France-based Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga said they will do their best to beat Zambia, but was quick to say that their dream could be up in smoke
without seeking divine intervention.
“We are confident of victory, but we urge Malawians to keep us in prayer. God’s intervention is important,” she said.
In their past five meetings, either team has won twice while the other match, which was their last meeting in November last year, ended in a one-all draw.
Meanwhile, in an article on Zambianfootball.co.zm, Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle, whose side has 10 players that ply their trade abroad, acknowledged the pressure her team faces playing against the puffed-up Malawi side
“We know Malawi very well. They are our neighbours and we have played them three times in the last one-and-a-half years,” the Swiss was quoted as having said.
“We know about their top players, the Chawinga sisters [Tabitha and Temwa]. They have players in France and a very good balance between local and fo eign-based players, just like us. Of course, we know now we have the pressure to get points, but that is our job.”
Hauptle said they are very positive about their goal as they know that if they beat Malawi, the chances of going through to the last-eight stage will be high.
While the Scorchers bank hopes on stars such as Tabitha, her younger sister Temwa, Rose Kabzere, Faith Chimzimu, Chimwemwe Madise and Leticia Chinyamula, Zambia relies on the likes of Barbara Banda, Rachel Kundananji and Eneless Phiri.
So far, Temwa has scored three goals and provided an assist for Malawi while Zambia’s Banda leads the scorers’ chart with four goals.
In the event of a tie on points among Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia, then results involving bottom-placed Egypt will not count, instead a mini-table involving the three teams will come into play and goal difference will be the first factor to identify the winner..
