The Malawi Under-17 Girls National Football Team, Young Scorchers believe they can turn the tables as they face Burundi in the second leg of the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Bujumbura, Burundi today.
The Young Scorchers go into the battle with a disadvantage having lost the first leg 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last week.
This is a must win match for Malawi to progress to the second round of the qualifiers.
Malawi can better Burundi’s result if they beat the hosts 1-0 in today’s match.
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Burundi, on the other hand, just need a draw to progress to the second round of the competition. There is little margin for error in this afternoon’s tie.
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On paper, Burundi are favourites but the Young Scorchers can upset them if they show great character.
Coach Chisomo Nkhoma said the girls are in high spirits ahead of the match.
“There is renewed hope in camp and the girls are geared for the match,” Nkhoma said.
She admitted that it would not be an easy task to stop Burundi in their backyard.
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“We expect a very difficult match but we need to be on top of our game. We can do it and the girls know the importance of the match,” she said.
Nkhoma will likely make some changes to the side that lost the first leg at home, with the likes of Victoria Mkwala, Eneless Fabiano, Talandira Kachala and Fatima Lali expected to be the team’s hub.
The overall between Malawi and Burundi will face either South Sudan or Ethiopia in the next round of the qualifiers.
South Sudan and Ethiopia played to a goal-less stalemate in the first leg.
