By Suleman Chitera

Malawi’s First Lady, Gertrude Mutharika, has praised the Scorchers for their impressive 3-1 victory over Egypt at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, describing the team’s performance as further proof that hard work, discipline and determination can deliver extraordinary results.

The Scorchers produced another commanding display on Saturday to defeat Egypt and strengthen their bid for a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, continuing what has become one of Malawi’s most memorable campaigns on the continental stage.

Congratulating the players after the victory, Mutharika said she was delighted by the team’s remarkable performance and commended the squad for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the tournament.A touching moment: Madame Getrude Mutharika embraces young girl during whistle-stop tour

“The players have demonstrated that anything is possible through dedication, commitment and discipline,” she said.

The First Lady noted that after Malawi stunned defending champions Nigeria earlier in the competition, some critics dismissed the victory as a one-off result. However, she said the convincing win over Egypt had silenced any doubts about the team’s quality.

“Some people believed the victory over Nigeria was just a fluke, but the Scorchers have once again shown that they belong among Africa’s best teams,” she said.

Mutharika added that the team’s performances have proved they travelled to Morocco with genuine ambitions rather than simply making up the numbers.

“The Scorchers have shown that they are not in Morocco merely to participate, but to compete and win,” she said.Mutharika to grace BEAM Strategy launch in Lilongwe

Declaring herself the team’s number one supporter, the First Lady said the players have made the nation proud and inspired thousands of young girls across Malawi who dream of representing the country at the highest level.

She encouraged the squad to maintain their momentum as they continue their quest to secure qualification for the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“The entire nation is behind you. Continue believing in yourselves and keep flying the Malawi flag high,” she said.

The Scorchers have become one of the surprise packages of the tournament, earning widespread praise for their fearless performances against some of Africa’s strongest women’s football nations.

Their victory over Egypt follows an earlier shock win against defending champions Nigeria, a result that has raised hopes of a historic breakthrough for Malawian women’s football.Concerned citizen calls Mutharika to release women of Kachere prison

With confidence soaring and the nation firmly behind them, the Scorchers remain on course to write another chapter in Malawi’s sporting history as they pursue a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.