The 2023 Hollywood Bets Cosafa Women’s Championship kicks off with potentially exciting Group A matches at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville in South Africa Tuesday.
But the pick of the day is the match between Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, and African champions and hosts South Africa this afternoon.
This is a grudge match as the two teams renew their rivalry.
They also met during the 2021 edition twice in which Banyana Banyana won 2-1 in the group stage but the Scorchers came out top in the semi-final with a 3-2 famous victory on their way to the historic Cosafa Cup final.
Since 2018, the Scorchers have only won a single match against the hosts. They were also in the same group during the 2018 edition held in Port Elizabeth but the Scorchers suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat.
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In 2019, they were drawn in the same group in which Malawi also lost 3-1.
A year later, Malawi and South Africa met in the semi-final but the Scorchers lost 6-2 after a goalless first stanza.
Fast forward, there is renewed hope in the Scorchers camp and they will be hoping to write another piece of history this afternoon.
The Scorchers have been undergoing a rebuilding exercise and only few players that were part of the 2021 edition have travelled for this year’s tournament.
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Goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo, Patricia Nyirenda, Chimwemwe Madise, Madyina Ngulube, Chikondi Gondwe, Temwa Chawinga, Vanessa Chikupira, Asimenye Simwaka and Sabina Thom are some of the experienced players in the squad.
Probably, coach Lovemore Fazili will rely on these players in today’s match.
The Scorchers arrived in South Africa for the tournament on Monday.
Fazili said they will take each game as it comes.
“It is a crucial match, but we need to keep our composure and play our game,” he said.
Fazili will likely mix the first 11 with some upcoming youngsters such as Faith Chinzimu, Sara Mlimbika, Rose Alufandika and Rose Kabzere, who was the top goal scorer with nine goals during Region 5 Youth Games held in Malawi last year.
On the part of South Africa, coach Desiree Ellis will be hoping that her charges will put up a good fight against Malawi.
BanyanaBanyana will likely rest some of the key players for the Cosafa Cup.
The match comes just few days after South Africa played two friendlies against United States of America, losing the first match 3-0 before going down 2-0.
On the part of the Scorcher, they beat lowly ranked Seychelles 34-0 in two matches having won each by 17-0 margins.
The Scorchers will face eSwatini at Dobsoville on Saturday before meeting Madagascar at UJ Soweto Stadium on Tuesday.
Winners from each group will qualify for the semi-finals and they will be joined by the overall group best runners-up.
