The Scorchers clinched their first-ever COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2023
* Takes centre stage in South Africa from February 18-March 1 and at the heart of the conversation are three COSAFA representatives Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and Cape Verde
* It is a vital opportunity for the three nations to sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of a demanding continental campaign
* To be staged in Morocco from March 17-April with far more than continental pride on the line as it also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Women’s Championship 2026 takes centre stage in South Africa from February 18-March 1 and right at the heart of the conversation are four teams — Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and Cape Verde — which are set to represent the region at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026.
Advertisement
The COSAFA Women’s Championship 2026 is thus a vital opportunity for the four nations to sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of a demanding continental campaign.
To be staged in Morocco from March 17-April, the WAfCON Morocco 2026 has far more than continental pride on the line as it also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
The tournament could hardly come at a better time, offering the COSAFA sides the perfect competitive platform to prepare and serving as the qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, it raises the stakes significantly for the teams’ global ambitions.
At their first-ever WAfCON participation, Malawi Scorchers were paired with defending champions Nigeria, North Africans Egypt and neighbours Zambia.
Their opening match will be against the Super Falcons from Nigeria on March 18 — followed by Egypt on March 21 and wrapping up Group C against Zambia on March 24 — a tough pool, dubbed ‘Group of Death’.
When the draw was concluded, Scorchers’ coach Lovemore Fazili describes the group as “inspiring”, saying it presents a true test of character for his side at such a pinnacle stage of African women’s football.
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, saying: “On paper, we have been drawn against big teams.
“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,” he is quoted as saying by Fam.mw.
Coach Fazili
Fazili emphasised that preparations will have to be intensive, and alluded to that the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship will play a key role, particularly in involving local-based players to strengthen squad depth.
“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.”
Nigeria will be chasing for an unprecedented 11th crown and the headline fixture in Group C is between the defending champions and Zambia. En-route to the Super Falcons clinching the 2024 edition, they 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” — reports Zambia media.
Morocco — who are hosting the event for the third consecutive time 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.
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.
Advertisement