As the Malawi Women’s Football team, the Scorchers head into their last encounter of the Women’s Three-Nations Tournament today, their form is already receiving widespread praise, giving Malawians hope for a stronger showing at the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Marking the beginning of the tournament on Friday at Bingu National Stadium, Malawi displayed determination and competitive edge, starting with a narrow 2–1 loss to Zimbabwe on Friday, before a spirited one-all draw with Zambia on Sunday.
Faith Chinzimu scored Malawi’s consolation against Zimbabwe in the 40th minute, while Rose Kabzere netted a powerful 56th-minute rebound to secure the draw against Zambia.
The team’s main sponsor, National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc, says it is impressed with the Scorchers’ overall performance in the Lilongwe tournament, even though Malawi is no longer in contention for the title.
NBM plc Product Development and Strategy Manager, Ibrahim Chapeyama, said the Bank was satisfied with the team’s overall performance, describing the tournament as an important foundation in Malawi’s WAFCON preparations.
“We are focusing on the positives because the coach was able to try out new players. We are impressed with what we have seen, and we are hoping for the best,” said Chapeyama.
He added that the Bank’s sponsorship aims to strengthen the development of women’s football and enhance Malawi’s competitiveness on the continental stage.
“We have been with them from the start. We sponsored the premiership that led to WAFCON qualification. Our message has always been the same, keep pushing and make the dream come true. We want the team not just to qualify again, but to go beyond and win it,” he said.
Scorchers Coach Lovemore Fazili said he was encouraged by the squad’s efforts, noting that building depth is essential for long-term success. “The games were not bad. I wanted to give a chance to players who have not played before. We cannot rely on just a few individuals, building a strong team requires depth,” he said.
Fazili emphasized that friendly matches are crucial for testing new combinations and improving tactical coordination.
“Even though we failed to win the tournament, I was looking for coordination between the new players and the usual squad. We learnt a lot from Zimbabwe and Zambia, and I believe they learnt from us as well,” he said. Zambia Coach Charles Haaluubono also praised Malawi’s continued progress in women’s football.
“They keep improving, and we are now almost at the same level, if not already there. You can see young players coming in and performing very well. I follow the Malawian league closely, and the development here is impressive,” he said.
According to tournament rules, the matches are being played in a league-format, and results so far mean Zimbabwe top the table with three points, followed by Zambia with a point, leaving Malawi with no mathematical chance of lifting the trophy.
