The Scorchers yesterday secured a vital away point following a goalless draw against Angola in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) final qualification round first leg at Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
The result means the Malawi National Women’s Football Team now bank on home-ground advantage to win next Tuesday’s second leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe to qualify for the finals in Morocco from March 17 to April 3 next year.
After the game, which was monitored on Angola’s TV Belas, Scorchers’ coach Lovemore Fazili said although the girls missed scoring opportunities, he was relieved that they did not concede away.
“We have played well and we expected to score as we had plenty of chances in both halves but could not convert them into goals.
Finishing was our only set-back. All the players that featured had a grand game and I thank them for the way they have played so far,” he said.
“Getting a draw away is better for us in this campaign. This promises us a better performance when we play [the second leg] at home, where we need to finish the game.”
The Scorchers’ starting line-up yesterday had Mercy Sikelo being in goal while Chimwemwe Madise, Bernadettar Mkandawire, Ireen Khumalo and Rose Alufandika played in defence.
Asimenye Simwaka pulled the strings on the right flank as Tabitha Chawinga attacked from the left wing. Faith Chinzimu and Rose Kabzere controlled the middle of the park whereas Sabina Thom and Vanessa Chikupila were central strikers.
However, the absence of USA-based free-scoring striker Temwa Chawinga, who excused herself after picking an injury with her club Kansas City Current at the weekend, was felt as Malawi fluffed a number of clear chances.
France-based captain and Temwa’s elder sister Tabitha seemed to be the major threat to Angola and the likes of Simwaka, Kabzere, Thom and Chinzimu pushed hard to get a goal but it wasn’t to be.
Malawi’s realistic chance came in the 37th minute when Tabitha cut in from the left near the box and let out a hard-and-low strike that went agonisingly wide.
She also had a big chance in the 84th minute through a free-kick just outside the box but it could not penetrate the Angolan defence.
On the other hand, Angola also squandered numerous opportunities with their Brazil-based striker Patricia Seteco being a regular nuisance for the Scorcher’s defence.
Malawi came into the match after registering three wins in their last eight matches while Angola secured just a single win in their last eight fixtures.
