Faultless Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, and Zambia are set to renew their rivalry after the two sides booked places in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship.
The two registered victories in their respective semifinal matches at Lucas Moripe Stadium Friday.
The Scorchers earned a hard fought 2-1 victory over Mozambique in the late kick off whereas the defending champions Zambia edged out Zimbabwe 1-0 at the same venue.
Relief was the prevalent emotion on the part of the Scorchers after they were made to work hard for the victory.
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The Scorchers turned the Pretoria facility into a theatre of celebrations after the final whistle as they joined a handful of Malawian supporters.
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For Mozambique, they trooped out the facility crestfallen after hard work for the better part of the match.
Individual brilliance of captain Temwa Chawinga was the difference as she scored a brace in a space of three minutes after Benadetta Mkandawire’s 38th minute own goal.
Her first goal was superb after she outpaced Mozambique defenders before snatching the ball from Mozambique goalkeeper Neima Nhamire in the 77th minute.
She negotiated an acute angle before firing into the net.
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Three minutes later Chawinga showed her class when she finished from close range after Mozambique defence was caught napping to send the Malawi fans into wild celebrations.
After the goal, Mozambique tried to come back into the match and nearly grabbed an equaliser after a blunder from goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo.
But the Scorchers held on for a famous victory and they will appear the in Cosafa Cup final for the second time.
The Scorchers were unfortunate not to get a goal in the first half.
Player-of-the-match Chawinga struck the frame of the goal posts from a free kick earlier in the match.
She was also denied by Mozambique goalkeeper in added time of the first half.
In a post-match interview, coach Lovemore Fazili declared total war on neighbours Zambia.
“We will show Zambia no respect this time. We are on a serious mission here and we have to grab the Cosafa Cup this time,” Fazili said.
Mozambique and Zimbabwe will battle for bronze in the early kick off tomorrow.
The Scorchers have won all the four games at this year’s tournament having beaten South Africa 4-3, eSwatini 8-0 and Madagascar 3-1.
Malawi have scored 17 goals and conceded five goals in four matches.
Chawinga is the leading goal scorer with nine goals.
