By Suleman Chitera
Malawi’s national women’s football team, the Scorchers, has been eliminated from the 2024 Cosafa Hollywoodbets Women’s Championship currently underway in Gqeberha, South Africa. The team’s journey came to an end in the semi-finals after a 2-0 defeat to Zambia.
Head coach Lovemore Fazili praised the Scorchers for their determination and commitment, acknowledging their efforts in reaching this stage of the competition. He expressed pride in their progress and dedication, even though the team ultimately fell short of advancing to the final.
Fazili highlighted the team’s strong performance in the first half, stating that they played with impressive energy and organization. However, he noted that their morale was affected after conceding an early second-half goal, which shook their focus and disrupted their rhythm.
“After Zambia scored, we encouraged the players to keep pushing and aim for an equalizer, but you could see their spirits drop in certain moments,” Fazili remarked.
Despite the loss, Fazili remains optimistic, asserting that the players’ performance throughout the tournament reflects a promising future for women’s football in Malawi.
Following this result, Zambia will face the winner of today’s match between South Africa and Mozambique in the championship final.