Malawi Women’s National Football Team coach Lovemore Fazili has said there were several positives from the five friendly international matches they have played in three months.
Fazili was reacting to a 4-2 loss to Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses at Senitra Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday night.
He said despite the loss to Morocco, his charges showed great improvement.
“We had plenty of scoring chances, which is one of the positives. Secondly, there is a lot of improvement from some of the players, of course, I cannot mention all of them. For me, I have a lot of confidence now with the players,” Fazili said.
Fazili featured a strong squad comprising France-based duo of captain Tabitha Chawinga and Rose Kabzere.
The duo did not disappoint as they gave the Scorchers the lead. Tabitha opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute of the match.
The Olympique Lyonnais forward was fouled in the box by Zineb Redouani.
Eight minutes later, Kabzere doubled the Scorchers’ lead with a composed finish after good work from Tabitha.
Bernadetta Mkandawire scored into her own net before Sakina Ouzraoui pulled the hosts level.
Morocco upped the tempo in the second half as they scored two more goals through Jraidi and Kenza Chapelle.
Fazili hailed the impact of Tabitha during the match.
“I have to congratulate the captain Tabitha, she has shown maturity and leadership. That is why when we do not have such players we always struggle,” Fazili said.
But Fazili was concerned with the midfield.
“There are some problems especially in the midfield. We were exposed on several occasions,” he said.
The Scorchers were without four key players Temwa Chawinga, Chimwemwe Madise, Patricia Nyirenda and Madyina Ngulube due to various reasons.
Malawi used the match as part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers against Angola in October this year.
The Scorchers lost 3-0 and 2-1 to South Africa in April this year. They also lost 2-0 to Zambia’s Copper Queens in the first friendly match before they beat them 3-2 in the second match in February this year.
On the other hand, Morocco are preparing for the delayed 2024 Wafcon finals scheduled to start on July 5.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Women’s National Team has secured another international friendly in Morocco and will face Ghana this evening at Ziaida Palace Complex.
“This will be the Scorchers’ sixth international friendly match in the first half of the year, as part of their ongoing preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” Fam reported on its Facebook page.
Ghana are currently ranked 66th in the Fifa World rankings whereas the Scorchers are 154 in the world.
The Black Queens qualified for the Wafcon finals and they are in the same Group with South Africa, Tanzania and Mali.
