Going through the drills in Rabat
* After failing to score in the two friendly matches against Tanzania last month
* The positive thing was that we managed to reach the goal area and create chances
* The players also managed to shoot at goal, so we have tried to work on that and I am sure they will do better in today’s game
By Duncan Mlanjira
As Malawi Scorchers face Morocco tonight (21h00) in Rabat in an international friendly as preparations for their debut Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON), head coach Lovemore Fazili assures that they have fine-tuned on finishing after failing to score in the two friendly matches against Tanzania last month.
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In an interview with FAM Media in Rabat, Fazili state that the friendly match against the WAfCON hosts and later Ghana, have come at the right time as the Scorchers continue their preparations for their debut appearance at the continental stage.
FAM Media reports that the Scorchers will face the Atlas Lionesses in a closed-door friendly match at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
This will be the second meeting between the two sides after they faced off in June last year, when Morocco came from two goals down to beat Malawi 4-2.
Thus Fazili says tonight’s match will help the technical panel assess the players and also give the team another feel of international football ahead of the continental showpiece.
“We are prepared,” he is quoted as saying. “The main purpose is to give the players international match experience after some time and also to see how the local and international players combine.
“That is very important for us,” said the coach while indicating that much as they failed to score in the two friendly matches against Tanzania “the positive thing was that they managed to reach the goal area and create chances”.
“The players also managed to shoot at goal, so we have tried to work on that and I am sure they will do better in today’s game,” he said.
On facing Morocco again, Fazili said the Scorchers have learnt lessons from last year’s defeat, saying: “Yes, we played Morocco before and the game was not bad.
“Though we lost, we put in every effort and could have won that game. But that was last year and this is another game. I am sure the players know why we conceded four goals when we were leading 2-0.”
Fazili also said morale is high in camp and praised the warm welcome the team has received in Rabat: “Everybody is good and ready for the game. The weather is similar to what we have back home,” he said.
Today’s match will be the Scorchers’ eighth international assignment this year, having played three games at the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Polokwane, two games at the FIFA Series against Australia and India, and two friendly matches against Tanzania’s Twiga Stars.
Their maiden match is up against 10-time champions, Nigeria on July 28 at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat followed by Egypt on August 1 at Moulay Hassan Stadium and concluding the group stage against neighbours and regional rivals Zambia on August 5 at Al Madina Stadium.
The tournament has a twist in that the four teams to progress into the semifinals will automatically qualify for the Women’s FIFA World Cup 2027 in Brazil, which is a major carrot for the teams.
The losing quarterfinalists will also have another chance to qualify to the World Cup as they will play an additional play-off round at the Morocco competition to determine two teams that will advance to the intercontinental preliminary stage.
Those play-offs will be staged in February 2027 and feature 10 teams drawn from all six of FIFA’s confederations, with one each from Oceania and Europe.
On their departure, FAM-president-Fleetwood-Haiya-dangled-k2-million-winning-bonus-per-player for every Scorchers WAfCON Morocco 2026 group-stage victory as motivation towards making extra milestone in Malawi’s women football.
On his official Facebook account, Haiya indicated that the bonus pledge would be increased for reaching the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
The Scorchers pool has been described as a Group of death as it pits Nigeria, who are 10-time winners and the reigning champions alongside COSAFA rivals Zambia and North Africans Egypt.
Egypt played two friendlies against highly-fancied Senegal last week in which they lost 0-1 through a penalty before winning the second 1-0.
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