Malawi Under-20 Women’s National Football Team Coach Maggie Chombo-Sadik has heaped praise on her charges for showing great character in the first round of the Fifa U-20 World Cup qualifiers against Guinea Bissau on Saturday.
She was reacting to the 1-1 stalemate in the first leg at Stade de Septembro in Bissau.
Chombo-Sadik said the girls demonstrated a fighting spirit during the match.
“We played against a very good team but the girls matched them.
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The performance was good. The girls were a bit nervous in the first half but they settled well in the second half,” she said.
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Following the draw, the Young Scorchers have an advantage going into the second leg, slated for Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.
The Young Scorchers can progress to the next round with a goal-less stalemate at home due to the away goal-rule.
Chombo- Sadik said the battle was not over yet.
“We need to win the second leg for us to qualify,” she said.
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Sarah Mulimbika scored the vital away goal for the Young Scorchers.
The winner between Malawi and Bissau will face either Nigeria or Senegal in the final round of the qualifiers.
Malawi advanced to the third round after beating South Sudan 3-1 on aggregate.
The first leg ended 2-0 but the two sides shared the spoils after a 1-1 stalemate in the second leg.
Both matches were played in Juba, South Sudan.
Prior to that, Malawi eliminated the Central African Republic following a 4-2 victory on aggregate.
The Young Scorchers have never qualified for the World Cup finals.
