* From an 8-0 defeat in 2002 to a 17-0 record victory, a WAfCON silver medal and FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification
Goalzone264
The Malawi women’s national football team, popularly known as the Scorchers, has grown from a little-known side into one of Africa’s rising women’s football teams.
Advertisement
Their journey began in 2002 and reached historic heights in 2026:
* 2002 — The beginning
The Scorchers played their first international match on April 20, 2002 at the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Zimbabwe, suffering an 8-0 defeat to Zambia.
* 2011 — First COSAFA semifinal
Malawi reached the COSAFA semi-finals for the first time, finishing fourth.
* 2016-2018 — Maggie Chombo-Sadiki era
Maggie Chombo-Sadiki became the first female coach of the senior women’s national team, serving from 2016 to 2018.
* 2019 — Birth of the Scorchers name
The team adopted the nickname Scorchers, giving Malawi’s women’s team its own identity separate from the men’s Flames.
* 2021 — First COSAFA final
Malawi reached their first COSAFA Women’s Championship final, defeating South Africa in the semi-final before losing 0-1 to Tanzania in the final.
* 2023 — COSAFA Champions!
The breakthrough finally came. The Scorchers won their first-ever COSAFA Women’s Championship, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final.
Temwa Chawinga won both the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot, scoring nine goals.
* 2025 — WAfCON qualification
Malawi secured their first-ever qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, setting up their historic debut.
* 2026 — History made
The Scorchers made their first WAfCON appearance in Morocco — and went all the way to the final.
They first beat Nigeria 3-2 — a stunning victory over the 10-times winners and defending champions.
A historic quarter-final victory followed in beating Ghana 2-1 that secured Malawi’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
The Scorchers reached their first-ever WAfCON final, beating Algeria 3–1 with Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga leading the attack.
The Scorchers being welcomed at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe
Scorchers records
* Largest win: Malawi 17-0 Seychelles (September 2023)
* Heaviest defeat: Zambia 8-0 Malawi (April 20, 2002)
* Major achievement: First COSAFA Women’s Championship title (2023)
* Historic achievement: First-ever WAfCON final (2026); first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification (2026).
From 15h00 today, the Scorchers are meeting Zimbabwe in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2nd round qualifier at Bingu National Stadium.
