By Llywellenie Mpasa & Peter Fote:
Malawi National Women’s Football Team captain Tabitha Chawinga was on target as Olympique Lyonnais thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1 at Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France, on Wednesday night.
The goal helped Lyonnais secure a dominant 6-1 aggregate win to advance to Uefa Women’s Champions League (UWCL) semifinals.
Tabitha netted Lyonnais’ third goal of the match, playing a pivotal role in dismantling the German giants.
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The result sets up a mouthwatering semifinal clash against Arsenal as Lyonnais continue their pursuit of a record-extending ninth UWCL title.
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Tabitha has featured in seven UWCL matches this season, clocking 497 minutes on the pitch.
In those matches, she has contributed two goals and two assists, underlining her attacking influence in Lyonnais’ quest for European glory.
Beyond her goal contributions, Tabitha’s all-around game has been impressive, with 17 goal attempts.
The Malawian superstar has also demonstrated impressive athleticism with a top speed of 31.32 kilometres (km) per hour.
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According to uefa.com, Tabitha has covered an average distance of 7.8km per match, showcasing high work rate and mobility.
Lyonnais’ dominant performance against Bayern Munich reaffirms their status as one of the elite women’s football clubs in Europe.
With Tabitha finding her form at a crucial stage of the tournament, Lyonnais will be confident of success heading into their semifinal battle with Arsenal.
The Malawian forward, who has previously excelled in China and Italy, continues to make an impact at the highest level of European football.
With Lyon aiming for yet another UWCL crown, Tabitha’s contributions could prove decisive in the club’s bid for continental supremacy.
Speaking from her base in Lyon, Tabitha said her two goals against Bayern Munich over two legs were a source of motivation.
“It is not all about my goals. It is the team’s success that matters most. If we can keep winning like this, there will be a strong mentality to achieve more. Our focus is now on the match against Arsenal,” she said.
National Women’s Football Association Chairperson Adelaide Migogo described Tabitha as a complete player who creates goals and also scores for her team.
Migogo called on the country’s young players to emulate Tabitha’s example.
“Tabitha is a humble, hard working athlete who never gives up in life. She has, for a long time, maintained her statistics and broken records in every league she has played in. I wish her all the success in her career,” she said.
