* Beat Zimbabwe 2-0 with goals from Chawinga sisters Temwa and captain Tabitha
* They have avenged the 2-1 defeat they suffered against Zimbabwe defeated in the Tri-Nations, which Malawi hosted in November 2025
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi Scorchers are off to solid start of the 2nd round qualifier for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 African qualifier after beating Zimbabwe 2-0 at Bingu National Stadium this Friday afternoon.
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Goals from Chawinga sisters, Temwa in the 34th minute and captain Tabitha in the 40th secured the result, which was also a revenge mission as the Scorchers were defeated 2-1 by the Zimbabwe in the Tri-Nations, which Malawi hosted in November 2025 at Bingu National Stadium.
This was during the FIFA window for friendlies as part of preparations towards the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026 qualifier against Angola.
This time around, Zimbabwe have met a Scorchers side which renewed its confidence on the international stage following their impressive performance at the WAfCON Morocco 2026 where they finished as runners-up and secured historic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
According to bulletins on FAM Media, the Scorchers pushed positively in the early minutes of the game and in the 21st minute Temwa Chawinga turned brilliantly inside the box, but her effort went just inches wide of the post.
In the 30th, they created another chance when France-based Rose Kadzere released Asimenye Simwaka through but with only the goalkeeper to beat, her effort went wide.
Four minutes later, the Scorchers went into the through Temwa Chawinga and the result stood for the half time break.
The Scorchers increased the lead five after resumption through the captain extraordinaire Tabitha ahead of the second leg away in Zimbabwe next week.
The winners of this round will progress to the next round to winners of Kenya v Seychelles.
There are 32 teams in the 2nd round from which 16 teams will qualify 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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