The Malawi Women’s National Football Team’s preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have received a major boost as the Scorchers will face Australia in Fifa Series in Kenya next month.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) announced Tuesday.
The Scorchers are scheduled to meet Australia on April 11.
This will be the first time for the Flames to face the number 15 ranked team in the world.
The winner between Malawi and Australia will meet either India or Kenya in the final of the Fifa Series four days later.
- Advertisement -
On the other hand, the losing semi-finalists will face each other on the same day.
Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili said matches would help his charges prepare for the upcoming Wafcon finals.
“The games are very important because they will strengthen the team further. Playing teams outside Africa is a huge motivation to us and that has never happened before to the Scorchers, even the players are eager to get something out of the games,” Fazili said.
Fazili said he would also use the tournament to gauge his side’s preparedness ahead of the Wafcon finals.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“Our target is to observe and learn the tactical and technical approach of the three teams. At the end of the tournament, we want to achieve a positive result,” he said.
The Scorchers will make their maiden appearance at the 2026 Wafcon finals after beating Angola 2-0 on aggregate in October last year.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said the matches would gauge the Scorchers ahead of Wafcon finals.
“It is a rare opportunity for the Scorchers. The team will learn a lot from the Fifa Series before the Wafcon finals,” he said.
The Scorchers were drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, neighbours Zambia and Egypt.
Malawi will open the campaign against Nigeria before facing Egypt three days later. They will wrap up the group stage with a match against Zambia.
Top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
The Wafcon finals will be used as qualifiers for 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup
