Scorchers off against defending champions Nigeria at WAfCON Morocco 2026

* It’s tough group but inspiring — it presents a true test of Scorchers’ character. We have the defending champions in our group, so we need to analyse all our opponents thoroughly—coach Lovemore Fazili

* International media focus on the clash between Nigeria and Zambia as the headline fixture that will renew the two sides hostilities

* The Super Falcons, chasing an unprecedented 11th crown, demolished Zambia en-route to their title in last edition also hosted by Morocco

Analysis by Duncan Mlanjira

At their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) participation, Malawi Scorchers will play their first match against defending champions, Nigeria on March 18 — followed by North Africans Egypt on March 21 and wrapping up Group C against neighbours Zambia on March 24.

It is a tough pool, dubbed ‘Group of Death’ and coach Lovemore Fazili acknowledges but describes it as “inspiring”, saying it presents a true test of character for his side at such a pinnacle stage of African women’s football.

Reacting to the draw, Fazili acknowledged to FAM Media the top quality of the opponents but stressed that the challenge offers Malawi an opportunity to compete and grow on the continental stage.

“On paper, we have been drawn against big teams,” he is quoted as saying by Fam.mw. “It is called the group of death for a reason, but that also gives us hope and motivation to fight at the highest level. We have the defending champions in our group, so we need to analyse all our opponents thoroughly.”

To be played from March 17-April 3, Fazili emphasises that preparations will be intensive, with the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship playing a key role, particularly in involving local-based players to strengthen squad depth.

“Our preparations will be stiff. We will utilise COSAFA to give opportunities to local players so that we go to Morocco strong,” he told Fam.mw. “We are not changing the squad, but we will expand it to fix loopholes and improve competition within the team.”

FAM president, Fleetwood Haiya attended the WafCON draw and he described Scorchers group as competitive but fair where every match will be a final, emphasising that the association “embraces the challenge with confidence”.

“We are heading to Morocco to compete, not to participate — focused, prepared, and determined to make Malawi proud,” he wrote on official Facebook page.

In reacting to the fixture schedule, Zambian Augustine Mukoka posted on Facebook that the “Copper Queens coach Norah Hauptle has been handed a relatively easy Group C fixture against Egypt on March 18”, adding that of the four teams, Egypt are “the weakest side”.

“Plotting the semi-final qualification which guarantees a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 should start now. This is the best time to use the calculator, not when matches have started,” he said.

Christopher Banda agreed with while suggesting that the Copper Queens “need early preparations with teams from West Africa [such as] Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali plus one North African like Algeria or Tunisia”.

Novic Martinez responded: “WAfCON is a big tournament — no team would want to lose. I agree that our Copper Queens need to prepare adequately and never underrate any team.”

Perhaps, this is also what the Scorchers need because as debutantes, very little is being mentioned of the Scorchers as the focus is on the Super Falcons of Nigeria, who will be chasing for an unprecedented 11th crown.
The headline fixture in Group C — described as a pool of contrasting styles — is between the defending champions and Zambia.En-route to the 2024 edition’s final where they crowned African women football champions after beating hosts Morocco 3-2, the Super Falcons crushed Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-final.

Thus the 2026 group stage “offers a familiar test, with Zambia again standing in Nigeria’s path” — as reported by the Zambia media.

Morocco — who are hosting the event for the third consecutive time from March 17-April 3 — head Group A alongside North African rivals Algeria, West Africans Senegal and East Africans Kenya, who return to the competition for their second appearance after their first in 2016.

Group B has South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Tanzania with Ghana heading Group D with West African Cameroon and Mali along with debutantes Cape Verde.

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) is thus represented by the two debutantes, Malawi and Cape Verde along with Zambia and South Africa — champions in 2022.

Ahead of the draw, Scorchers captain, Tabitha Chawinga described the WAfCON as “war — not friendly games, it is a competition, so there is no weak team and we have to focus on our preparations”.

The Scorchers qualified for the WAfCON Morocco 2026 last October after defeating Angola 2-0 on aggregate — 0-0 away and 2-0 at home, Bingu National Stadium — and Tabitha is quite right; it’s ‘war’ that awaits the Scorchers in Morocco.

The top two sides in each group will advance to the quarterfinals while four teams that reach the semifinals will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.

The losing quarterfinalists will then play in a set of matches to determine which two African teams will enter the inter-confederation play-offs for a place at the World Cup — thus there is a lot more for the Scorchers to record further history.

Coach Fazili anticipated tough matches ahead of the draw but said with good preparations, they can help and show his technical team where they are heading to: “We have to get maximum points from the group and then fight for a place in the semifinals so that we can qualify for the World Cup,” Fazili told Fam.mw ahead of the draw he participated alongside Haiya.

Ahead of the two qualifying matches against Angola, FAM accorded the Scorchers plenty of friendly matches, including a Tri-Nations Tourney which Malawi hosted at Bingu National Stadium in November soon after qualifying for the WAfCON Morocco 2026.

From the 11 games played from February to November, Scorchers registered 6 losses and four wins — 3-2 against Zambia and two 3-0 victories over Lesotho during FIFA window for friendlies and the 2-0 triumph in the 2nd leg against Angola in the WAfCON historic qualification, whose first leg ended in a 0-0 draw.

In the Tri-Nations, they lost 1-2 loss to Zimbabwe before drawing with Zambia. Before facing Angola, FAM organised eight international friendlies — the first against Zambia in February in which they lost 0-2 in the first match before winning 3-2 a few days later in the FIFA sanctioned window of friendlies.

Their next two were against South Africa in April in which they lost 0-4 on aggregate (0-2 each in two games) before North Africans Morocco invited them in June for a friendly in which they lost 2-4.

A few days later still in Morocco, they lost 1-3 to Ghana in their 6th international, while against Lesotho played at Mpira Stadium, Asimenye Simwaka scored 5 goals in two 3-0 victories.

What coach Fazili’s technical team need to work out is in defence was in the friendly against Morocco, the Scorchers led 2-0 up until the 40th minute from goals by captain Tabitha and Rose Kabzere. Against Ghana, the Scorchers against went ahead in the 15th minute through Tendai Sani only to lose 1-3.

In the 1-2 Tri-Nation loss to Zimbabwe in November, Fazili made a surprise change to his side by keeping his top players on the bench including captain, Tabitha (Olympique Lyonnais Féminin/France), Sabina Thom (TP Mazembe, DRC); Vanessa Chikupira (FC BIIK-Kazygurt/Kazakhstan) and Benadette Mkandawire (Nyasa Big Bullets) and goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo (Ntopwa Women).

He started with Thoko Mwase in goals (Nyasa Big Bullets), who was to be replaced by Mercy Sikelo in the 45th minute after she had conceded two goals — the first three minutes into the game and the second in the 39th.

Infield has Maureen Keneth (replaced by Bernadettar Mkandawire 45’), Rose Alufandika (Ntopwa), Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe/DRC), Sarah Mlimbika (Ntopwa; replaced by Vannesa Chikupila 45’), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers Ladies), Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Soccer), Faith Chimzimu (BK Hacken/Sweden), Rose Kabzere (Montpellier/France; replaced by Mighty Wanderers Queens’ Funny Moyo, 78), ZISD’s Tendai Sani (Tabitha Chawinga, 45’) Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens/Zambia; replaced by Sabina Thom 45’).

After making changes, the Scorchers’s performance improved after been stunned by a brace from Zimbabwe’s Ethel Chinyerere with Faith Chimzimu reducing the arrears to 1-2 going for halftime recess.

Despite the loss, Fazili told FAM Media that there were several positives, saying he wanted to give a chance to other players and was satisfied the new players played well — thus he does need a spurring partner the soonest as possible ahead of the ‘war’ in the WAfCON Morocco March 17-April 3 2026 edition.