Malawi Women’s National Football Team head coach Lovemore Fazili says his players are targeting a win over Zambia, not merely a point, when the Scorchers close out their Group C campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Wednesday evening.
Malawi have already done enough to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals regardless of the result against the Copper Queens, having picked up maximum points from their opening two matches — a stunning 3-2 win over defending champions Nigeria and a 3-1 victory over Egypt.
Those results leave the Scorchers top of Group C on six points, with Nigeria and Zambia tied for second and third on three points apiece, separated by goal difference after the Super Falcons edged the Copper Queens 1-0 over the weekend. Nigeria will play already-eliminated Egypt in the group’s other final-round fixture, played simultaneously.
Speaking ahead of the Zambia clash, Fazili made clear that his side are not interested in settling for the point that would technically be enough to secure top spot in the group.
“We have been preparing very well, players looked like everyone wants to play, but in football, we only have 11 players who start the game, and we will choose 11. We are focusing on winning the game, not thinking about the draw,” Fazili said.
“First of all, we want to win the game, and a draw will be maybe if anything goes unexpectedly, but our aim is to win the game, and if we do so, then we will have nine points, which is good.”
Fazili said he was thoroughly satisfied with the squad at his disposal, singling out the influence of talismanic forward Temwa Chawinga, whose return to the national team ahead of the tournament has proven pivotal to Malawi’s historic run.
“Temwa Chawinga is back, and that is what we have been looking for. She is our goal machine, she is our goal scorer. That’s why, out of these two games that we have played, we have been able to score goals,” he said.
The Kansas City Current forward, who last featured for the Scorchers in February last year before her recall for this tournament, scored twice in the win over Nigeria and has continued to draw defensive attention that Fazili believes has opened space for others to step up.
“Despite that, some players have taken advantage because the teams which we are playing against are now busy marking Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga. That’s why we see, in each and every game, we are scoring goals — and that’s why Rose Kabzere and Faith Chinzimu scored against Egypt,” he added.
Reaching the quarter-finals would already represent a landmark achievement for Malawi, who are competing at the WAFCON finals for the first time in the country’s history. But the Scorchers have set their sights higher, with a semi-final berth the team’s stated target — a result that would also seal automatic qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, since WAFCON semi-finalists book their place at the global showpiece.
Fazili’s side will, however, have to make do without defender Rose Alufandika for the Zambia game, after she picked up a straight red card for a late challenge on an Egyptian attacker during the win over the Cleopatras. The coach has indicated he has other options to cover the gap at the back.
Malawi’s Group C finale against Zambia kicks off at 10pm tonight at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
