* Her sister Tabitha made it 3-0 in the 52nd before Temwa’s hat-trick and coach Fazili could afford to rest both in the 60th minute leading 4-0
* But their substitutes Chisomo Banda and Sarah Mulimbika each scored alongside Asimenye Simwaka
* The Scorchers date Kenya in the next round, who beat Seychelles 22-0 on aggregate at 11-0 in each leg
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi national women’s football team’s most deadly forward Temwa Chawinga has netted a hat-trick as the Scorchers annihilated Zimbabwe 7-0 in the second leg of the Olympic Games Los Angeles Olympics 2028 qualifier played at National Sports Stadium in Harare this Tuesday afternoon.
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Her sister Tabitha also scored after Temwa had claimed her brace and coach Lovemore Fazili could afford to rest both in the 60th minute when they were leading 4-0 after Temwa’s hat-trick.
But their substitutes Chisomo Banda and Sarah Mulimbika each scored alongside Asimenye Simwaka to make it 7-0 and 9-0 on aggregate after winning the home leg 2-0 at Bingu National Stadium last Friday.
The sisters each scored in the first leg at Bingu and the Scorchers advance to the 3rd round to meet Kenya, who annihilated Seychelles 22-0 on aggregate — 11-0 away on Thursday another 11-0 at home yesterday.
At National Sport Stadium in a game which failed to attract a boisterous fan patronage like it was at Bingu National Stadium on Friday, Temwa opened the lead in the 10th minute and double it in the 30th after a brilliant pass from Ireen Khumalo.
They rested at halftime break at 2-0 and seven minutes after resumption (52’), Tabitha Chawinga got on the scoresheet after being set up by Asimenye Simwaka.
Four minutes later (56’) Temwa Chawinga completed her hat-trick after a wonderful pass from her sister, captain Tabitha Chawinga.
That when coach Fazili could afford to pull out the two deadly attackers for Chisomo Banda and Sarah Mulimbika and in the 86th Chisomo fired home a powerful effort from 20 metres, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Two minutes later, Rose Kadzere set a beautiful pass to Asimenye Simwaka who made it 6-0 before Sarah Mulimbika made it seven up after being set up by Faith Chinzimu.
Chinzimu had been sent in from the bench just before second half resumption replacing Madyina Nguluwe and in the 76th, Fazili added more power by bringing in Chikondi Gondwe and Maggie Chavula to replace Leticia Chinyamula and Benadeta Mkandawire.
The Scorchers run riot at the National Sports Stadium despite the substitution of the Chawinga sisters, proving he has built a formidable side.
However, the Scorchers have to remain focused ahead of their encounter in the 3rd round against Kenya scheduled for February 2027.
There were 32 teams in the 2nd round from which 16 teams qualifed to the 3rd round to compete eight teams that will go to Round 4.
The final four nations will compete in the last round to determine two teams to represent Africa for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Scorchers last participated in the Olympic qualifiers in 2019, in which they defeated Mozambique 14-1 on aggregate in the first round before losing 3-5 on aggregate to Kenya in the second round.
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