By Suleman Chitera

LILONGWE — Malawi is preparing to roll out the red carpet for the Scorchers after their historic run at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, with the national team expected to receive a heroes’ welcome when they return home on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Sports, working alongside the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS), Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Lilongwe City Council and National Bank, is organising a special reception ceremony in Lilongwe to honour the players and technical team for a campaign that has captured the imagination of the nation.

The Scorchers have returned from Morocco with more than a runners-up medal.

They have given Malawians a moment of national pride, reached the WAFCON final for the first time and secured a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil — a historic achievement that has placed Malawi among Africa’s leading women’s football nations.

The team’s journey has already sparked celebrations across the country, with supporters hailing the players for carrying the Malawi flag with distinction on one of the continent’s biggest football stages.

According to Ministry of Sports Public Relations Officer Macmillan Mwale, preparations are now underway to ensure the players receive the recognition they deserve.

Mwale said the Scorchers will be accorded a police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) escort after landing at Lilongwe International Airport on Wednesday, signalling the importance attached to their achievement.

The reception is expected to provide an opportunity for supporters, officials and stakeholders to celebrate the players whose performances in Morocco have created a rare sense of unity and national excitement.

For a team that has often had to fight for recognition and resources, the Scorchers’ WAFCON campaign represents a major milestone.

Their success has also placed a spotlight on the potential of women’s football in Malawi and renewed calls for greater investment in the women’s game, from grassroots development and facilities to player welfare, professional opportunities and international preparation.

The possibility of the players meeting President Peter Mutharika at State House is also being considered.

Mwale said the Ministry will provide an update on whether the meeting will take place, adding another possible highlight to what is expected to be an emotional homecoming.

The Scorchers’ achievement has transcended football.

For many Malawians, the team’s run in Morocco has become a story of determination, resilience and belief — a reminder of what can be achieved when talent is given an opportunity to compete at the highest level.

The players will now return home to a country eager to say one thing:

Thank you, Scorchers, for making Malawi proud.

Their runners-up finish may have ended on the pitch, but the impact of their historic WAFCON campaign is only beginning. With qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup secured, the attention will now turn to how Malawi can build on this breakthrough and ensure the achievement becomes the beginning of a new era rather than a one-off moment of glory.

Wednesday’s reception, therefore, will not simply be a welcome ceremony.

It will be Malawi’s chance to celebrate a team that has made history — and to remind the country that the future of women’s football can be just as bright as the present.