There are two Malawis these days.
One is represented by the Scorchers in Morocco—a Malawi that scores goals, defies expectations and makes the rest of Africa wonder whether we have been hiding serious talent under the mattress.
The other is represented by the economy—a Malawi that seems determined to concede goals faster than the Scorchers can score.
Fortunately, on Wednesday night, the first Malawi won.
And how?
The Scorchers went into their Wafcon semi-final against Algeria as underdogs. As maiden debutants at the Women’s World Cup, they faced a side many expected to have the upper hand.
Instead, somebody forgot to tell the Scorchers they were supposed to be intimidated.
They thumped Algeria 3–1 in Rabat and stormed into the final.
Three goals to one.
The underdogs did not merely survive; they beat Algeria 3–1 in Rabat, securing a place in the Wafcon final and next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup. After overcoming defending champions Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana, the Scorchers have become one of the tournament’s biggest stories. For Malawi, accustomed to economic disappointment, their success offers something refreshingly simple: goals, victory and pride. They have put the country on the continental football map—and done so without a slogan.
While the economy is busy conceding—foreign exchange, jobs, purchasing power, investment and, occasionally, common sense—the Scorchers are scoring.
While households calculate whether K1 000 can still buy anything meaningful, Malawians have been calculating how many goals the Scorchers can score.
And after the 3–1 victory over Algeria, perhaps we deserve a little longer.
This is not simply a football story. It is a story about what happens when talent meets preparation, discipline, opportunity and belief.
The Scorchers arrived in Morocco as underdogs. They have emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest stories and shown that a small footballing nation does not have to behave like one.
They have also done something politicians have spent years trying to achieve:
They have united Malawians without asking for votes.
Nobody is arguing about political parties when the Scorchers are attacking. Nobody is checking whether the striker belongs to this side or that side.
More importantly, government should take notes.
The Scorchers have made their own argument for investment.
They need more support—serious, sustained funding, not celebratory crumbs after historic victories.
Build facilities. Develop grassroots football. Support academies. Pay coaches. Provide equipment. Give girls regular competition. Identify talent early.
The Scorchers are not a bottomless pit into which taxpayers pour money and wait for miracles.
They are showing returns.
Those returns are not merely financial. They are national pride, international visibility, inspiration and opportunity.
A young girl kicking a football on a dusty pitch can now look at the Scorchers and think: Why not me?
That is nation-building.
Malawi is good at discovering heroes after they succeed. We clap, promise support and hold ceremonies, then, when the cameras disappear, funding moves at the pace of a defender chasing a Scorcher. This time, let us do better. The Scorchers have done their part: scoring, qualifying for the World Cup, reaching the Wafcon final and putting Malawi on the continental football map.
Now the country must do its part.
And there is another lesson here for our economy.
The Scorchers did not spend 90 minutes explaining why they could not win. They did not blame the pitch or weather. They did not announce that victory was coming “soon”. They did not ask Malawians to be patient while preparing another strategy.
They simply played.
And scored.
Perhaps the Ministry of Finance should obtain a copy of the match. Perhaps Treasury should study the Scorchers’ tactics.
There might be something to learn.
Because at the moment, the scoreboard is rather embarrassing:
Scorchers 3. Economy 0.
Actually, on most days, the economy is probably conceding an own goal as well.
For years, Malawians have been told that transformation is coming. Recovery is coming. Investment is coming. Jobs are coming. Forex is coming. Prosperity is coming.
But the only thing that reliably arrives is another explanation why all those issues did not arrive.
Meanwhile, the Scorchers have shown us what delivery looks like.
They arrived. They competed. They defied expectations. They won.
At a time when the economy is giving Malawians plenty of reasons to tighten their belts, these women have given us a reason to loosen them enough to smile.
Long may they keep scoring.
If government is looking for an investment with a proven ability to make Malawians smile, it should look no further than the women who have taught the country—and perhaps even the economy—a simple lesson:
Get on the pitch. Do the work. Score the goals.
Because right now, the Scorchers are scoring.
The economy is conceding.
