Tabitha and Faith Chinzimu on collision course in 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League

* Tabitha’s French side OL Lyonnes are eight-time winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League

* Chinzimu’s Swedish club BK Häcken are inagural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup champions

By Duncan Mlanjira

Malawi Scorchers teammates, Tabitha Chawinga and Faith Chinzimu will play against each other when their sides, France’s OL Lyonnes and Sweden’s BK Häcken, respectively, will meet in the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League on December 16, 2026.

OL Lyonnes, who lost 0-4 to Barcelona in May’s UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/26 final, are the eight-time winners of the competition and one of the most successful dynasties in women’s football.

Chinzimu joined BK Häcken last season to revel as UEFA Women’s Europa Cupchampion in May 2026 before she joined Tabitha and the rest of the Scorchers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026.

Both players were pivotal in the Scorchers memorable run at the WAfCON in their debut appearance where they qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 by reaching the semifinals.

They went on to beat powerhouse Ghana in the semis to qualify for the final in which they clinched the silver medal after losing 0-3 to giants Cameroon.

Chinzimu, a graduate of Ascent Soccer — Malawi’s most successful football academy — signed for the Swedish club in August 2025.

She scored the all-important two goals that beat Angola 2-0 in the WAfCON Morocco 2026 qualifiers when the Scorchers wrote their history for their first-ever qualification.

At the WAfCON, Chinzimu also scored a marvelous goal in the Scorchers’ 3-1 win over Egypt in group stages.

Tabitha is a seasoned UEFA Women’s Champions League contestant with OL Lyon while Chinzimu’s would be a dream debut appearance.

BK Häcken open the 16-team league phase against Inter Women on September 22 away at Felice Chinetti Stadium, Italy before hosting another Italian club, Juventus Womenon September 30 at Nordic Wellness Arena, Gothenburg, Sweden.

They will then travel to Paris to face French side, Paris FC on October 29 at Stade Jean-Bouin before hosting English side Chelsea Women on November 10 at Nordic Wellness Arena.

Next will be against Manchester City Women on November 18 at home, Nordic Wellness Arena and finish against Tabitha’s OL Lyonnes on December 16 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

Tabitha’s eight-time champions, who are looking to recapture the European crown following their 4-0 loss to Barcelona in May, open their 2026/27 campaign away at Stade de Genève against Servette FCCF before hosting Chelsea Women at home Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

Next up is against Inter Women at home; against Juventus Women away and Arsenal away before dating Chinzimu’s BK Häcken.