By Suleman Chitera

Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili says the Scorchers will emerge stronger from their historic WAFCON campaign despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to Cameroon in the final in Rabat.

Fazili believes Malawi’s remarkable run to the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has demonstrated that the Scorchers have the quality and potential to compete at the highest level of African women’s football.

Cameroon ended Malawi’s fairytale campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Sunday, with all three goals coming in the first half. The result handed Cameroon their first-ever WAFCON title after three previous final defeats.

But for Fazili, the defeat does not erase what has been an extraordinary tournament for Malawi.

The Scorchers were appearing at the WAFCON finals for the first time and, against expectations, went all the way to the championship match. Their run also secured Malawi a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, marking the country’s first appearance at the global tournament.

Speaking after the final, Fazili acknowledged that Cameroon punished Malawi early, particularly after the Scorchers conceded three times before the break.

He also pointed to Cameroon’s defensive organisation as a major factor, saying Malawi’s attacking players were closely monitored and struggled to find the space they had enjoyed in earlier matches.

The defeat was a sharp contrast to Malawi’s attacking display throughout the tournament. The Scorchers had scored 12 goals on their way to the final, with sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga playing a central role in the team’s historic campaign.

Tabitha scored twice against Algeria in the semi-final, while Temwa also found the net as Malawi defeated the North Africans 3-1 to book their place in the final.

From WAFCON debutants to African finalists

Malawi’s achievement is particularly significant because the Scorchers entered the tournament as debutants and were ranked far below many of Africa’s traditional women’s football powers.

Their journey included a stunning victory over 10-time champions Nigeria in the group stage before further knockout victories over Ghana and Algeria propelled them into the final.

Fazili now wants to use the experience as a foundation for the next chapter.

Rather than allowing the final defeat to overshadow the campaign, the coach believes the players have shown enough quality to suggest that Malawi can become a more competitive force on the continent.

The biggest prize from the campaign is already secured: a ticket to Brazil for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Brazil beckons

The Scorchers will now have another historic challenge ahead of them when they make their World Cup debut in Brazil next year.

For Fazili, the experience gained in Morocco should provide valuable preparation for that stage.

The coach’s message is therefore one of progression rather than disappointment: Malawi may have fallen short of the WAFCON trophy, but the Scorchers have proved they belong among Africa’s elite.

Their 3-0 loss to Cameroon ended the dream of lifting the continental trophy, but it did not end the story.

If anything, it has opened a much bigger chapter.

The Scorchers have gone from WAFCON debutants to African finalists. Now, Fazili wants to turn that breakthrough into lasting success — with Brazil 2027 waiting on the horizon.