By Suleman Chitera

The tension was palpable until the roar came.

At Café 92 in Lilongwe and Linde Lounge & Grill in Mzuzu, supporters watched as the Scorchers fought back from an early setback to beat Ghana 2-1, sending Malawi into the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and securing the country’s first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ghana’s early goal briefly subdued the mood, but Temwa Chawinga restored parity in the 12th minute before Rose Kadzere’s 79th-minute strike sent supporters into wild celebrations.

At Café 92, Deborah Chimbende said the occasion offered supporters an opportunity to witness a milestone in Malawi’s sporting history.

“I am very excited and happy about the outcome of the game. The victory means they are through to the semi-finals and have also qualified for the World Cup. That is incredibly exciting because it is the first time this has happened in Malawi’s history,” said Chimbende.NBM plc gives 20 Scorchers’ jerseys in ‘Waku WAFCON’ promo

She thanked National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc for organising the watch party and giving supporters a place to gather and back the team.

For Curtis Matika, the night brought a personal bonus after he won an NBM plc gift bag.

“I didn’t even plan to come here, but I’m glad I did. It’s just been an amazing night. It’s the first time we’ve qualified for WAFCON, and now we’ve also qualified for the World Cup. And then, on top of all that, I’ve won a gift bag from National Bank,” he said.

In Mzuzu, another supporter, Sean Mwale said the atmosphere at Linde Lounge & Grill reflected the growing excitement surrounding the Scorchers.

He described the energy among supporters as intense, with fans following every moment before celebrating together after Kadzere’s winning goal.

‘’The energy in Mzuzu was incredible. Everyone was fully behind the Scorchers, and when that winning goal went in, the whole place erupted, “he said.

NBM plc Product Development and Strategy Manager Ibrahim Chapeyama said the response to the team’s campaign showed the growing appeal of women’s football.NBM plc Watch Parties boosts Scorchers’ WAFCON home morale

“You can definitely tell that the Scorchers are pulling the country together. People are now more interested in women’s football, and the Scorchers are putting Malawi on the map,” said Chapeyama.

He said NBM plc was proud to support the team and contribute to the development of women’s football.

“As a sponsor, we are happy that the Scorchers are breaking records, and we are particularly proud that this is happening at a time when NBM is supporting both the Women’s League and the Scorchers. We believe our support is helping to push the growth of women’s football, and we are hoping for even more from the team,” said Chapeyama.

The watch parties form part of NBM’s wider support for the Scorchers, combining fan engagement with opportunities for customers to experience the Bank’s sponsorship beyond traditional banking spaces.

On Sunday night, however, the football took centre stage.Scorchers attribute WAFCON win to NBM plc support

From the early setback to Chawinga’s equaliser and Kadzere’s late winner, supporters in Lilongwe and Mzuzu lived through the same twists and turns as the team in Morocco, before celebrating a victory that took the Scorchers one step closer to WAFCON glory and Malawi to the world stage