The Malawi Women’s National Football Team Coach Lovemore Fazili is optimistic that his local stars will deliver when they face Lesotho in two friendly matches next week.
Fazili said this Monday after he announced a 27-member squad made up of home-based players.
The Scorchers will host Lesotho on August 29 and 31 at Mpira Stadium, Chiwembe Township, in Blantyre.
He said the matches would be an opportunity for the local-based players to prove themselves.
“I am confident that the local-based players will give their best. Much as we wanted to have all our foreign country-based players, we need to appreciate that we will have a chance to see other players,” Fazili said.
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Fazili will be without all the foreign country-based players as the two matches will be played outside the Fifa Women’s Window.
In addition, Fazili will be without Kukoma Ntopwa Women’s players as they are expected to take part in the 2025 Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa Qualifier scheduled to kick off this Friday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This has forced Fazili to drop first choice goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo, defender Rose Alufandika and midfielder Funny Magombo.
Instead, Fazili has included Mighty Wanderers Queens striker Faluna Umali, who recently starred at the Cosafa Under-17 Girls Championship in Namibia, where she won two player-of-the-match awards.
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Fazili said Umali’s addition highlights the team’s focus on nurturing young talent as the Scorchers intensify preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola in October this year.
The squad also has experienced players such as Bernadette Mkandawire, Sabina Thom, Leticia Chinyamula, Ireen Khumalo, Zainab Kapanda and Mary Chabvinda.
