Malawi’s Scorchers will face Ghana’s Black Queens in a high-stakes Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals, and a historic debut ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, hanging in the balance.
The Scorchers secured top spot in Group C during their maiden WAFCON appearance, highlighted by a historic 3-2 victory over 10-time champions Nigeria and a 3-1 win over Egypt, before a narrow 2-1 defeat to Zambia.
Meanwhile, Ghana reached the last eight after finishing second in Group D following a 1-1 draw with Mali.
While the Black Queens defeated Malawi 4-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, Scorchers head coach Lovemore Fazili dismissed the relevance of that warm-up match, declaring his side fully prepared for a competitive knockout encounter.
“We are very prepared, seriously prepared for tomorrow’s game. There is a lot at stake. We are supposed to get a win in tomorrow’s game. I am sure that we are going there seriously to give out so that we can become victorious in this match. Because if we go through, it means we are going to play in the World Cup next year. So this is the favourite thing that I think everybody is looking for,” said Fazili.
Despite coming off a narrow loss to regional rivals Zambia in their final group fixture, Fazili noted that his squad gained valuable momentum from a strong second-half performance.
“Yes, we lost that game against Zambia,” Fazili acknowledged. “But positively, I think we played very well. We managed to, especially in the second half, fight back. We played very well, so whatever we left when we played against Zambia, I think it was also taken to the Ghana game. Obviously, the players are angry and they want to continue where they left in the second half when we played against Zambia. And I am sure it is a must-win game. We are going to try at all possible to win tomorrow’s game.”
Malawi will be forced to adjust their starting lineup without key suspended Leticia Chinyamula and Chimwemwe Madise who have two yellow cards, and forward Sabina Thom, who was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a knee injury.
However, Coach Fazili expressed complete confidence in his squad depth and tactical alternatives.
“Actually, every player who is in the team has been registered. We are going to miss the three because they contributed a lot for the games which we played, but we have a plan B for their replacement and they are good players as well. I am very sure that they are going to deliver. These are also players that have to be given a chance to start this coming game tomorrow. Let’s have confidence in them and also pray for them to play very well,” said Fazili.
A victory on Sunday would seal Malawi’s first-ever qualification for a FIFA World Cup tournament, a milestone that Fazili believes would mark a watershed moment for Malawian football.
“A win tomorrow is very important because this is what Malawians have been looking for, this is what the Football Association has been looking for. It will be a very good thing to give to Malawians that we have qualified to go and play in the World Cup next year. More specifically, I think it also goes to the President of the Football Association of Malawi, Fleetwood Haiya, and the entire FAM secretariat, that this achievement is huge. For us and the players, we celebrate together with Malawians and everyone because it has never happened before. It is happening now. If we go through, all of us are going to celebrate. It is going to be history,” he said.