All foreign-based players named in coach Fazili’s provisional squad for WAfCON Morocco 2026 including Temwa Chawinga

* The foreign-based players are expected to report at the start of camp, except for midfielder Faith Chinzimu (BK Häcken, Sweden) and striker Temwa (Kansas City Current, USA), who will join the squad later

By Duncan Mlanjira

Malawi Scorchers’ head coach Lovemore Fazili has named a 32-member provisional squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026 and amongst the foreign-based expected to attend camp is US-based Temwa Chawinga.

Temwa faced-a-backlash-when-it-was-revealed-that-she-would-not-be-able-to-join-the-Scorchers-camp-ahead-of-friendly-games-in-Tanzania-early-this-month.

But she responded by saying she had to attend to important personal matters and expressed her “full commitment to the Scorchers”.

A statement from Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says all the foreign-based players are expected to report at the start of camp, except for midfielder Faith Chinzimu (BK Häcken, Sweden) and striker Temwa (Kansas City Current, USA), who will join the squad later.

The camp is set to begin on Sunday at Mpira Village in Blantyre ahead of  tournament in Morocco where the Scorchers will open their campaign against record-winning Super Falcons of Nigeria on July 28 at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.

The other foreign-based legion are defender Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), midfielders Rose Kabzere (Montpellier HSC Feminines, France), Tendai Sani (ZISD, Zambia), Vanessa Chikupila (Palm Hills Sports Club, Egypt), Sarah Mlimbika (Green Buffaloes Women, Zambia).

Forwards are captain Tabitha Chawinga (Olympique Lyonnais, France), Sabina Thom (Phoenix Academy Marrakesh (Morocco) and  Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens, Zambia).

The squad includes Under-20 players Takondwa Chinyamvula and Fatima Lali, both of Ascent Soccer, while retaining the core of the team that has represented the Scorchers throughout the year.

The Scorchers are making their maiden appearance at the continental showpiece and drawn in Group C alongside the 10-time WAfCON champions, Nigeria, North Africans, Egypt (August 1) neighbours, Zambia (August 5).

The top two teams from each group, together with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Domestic league players are:

* Goalkeepers — Mercy Sikelo (Civil Service Women), Yamikani Kaonga (MDF Lionesses), Esther Maulidi (Mighty Wanderers Queens), Thoko Mwase (Nyasa Big Bullets Women);

* Defenders — Doreen Dickson (MDF Lionesses), Tionge Phiri & Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers Ladies), Rose Alufandika & Olivia Phikani (Ntopwa Queens), Talandira Chinyamvula & Maggie Chavula (Ascent Soccer), Benadetta Mkandawire (Nyasa Big Bullets Women);

* Midfielders — Funny Magombo (Ntopwa Queens), Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Soccer), Chikondi Gondwe & Madyina Nguluwe (Silver Strikers Ladies), Lyna James (Nyasa Big Bullets Women), Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Civil Service Women), Asimenye Simwaka (MDF Lionesses);

* Forwards — Deborah Henry (Silver Strikers Ladies), Mary Chavinda (Nyasa Big Bullets Women) and Fatima Ali (Ascent Soccer).