Malawi National Women’s Football Team will play South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the first friendly match at the UJ Soweto Sports Complex on Saturday.
Malawi’s Scorchers head coach Lovemore Fazili said he was confident of a good result as they step up preparations for Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers against Angola in October.
Malawi had a walkover in the first round qualifiers after DRC withdrew and face Angola who booted out Zimbabwe on penalty shoot-outs after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
The Scorchers face South Africa, who are WAFCON defending champions in two friendly matches with the other match slated for Tuesday at the same venue.
The matches comes at the back of two friendlies against Zambia in February as Malawi intensifies preparations for a WAFCON qualifying tie against Angola in October.
Speaking ahead of the Saturday match, Fazili said they are geared to face the Africa Champions in preparations for the WAFCON qualifiers against Angola.
“Our preparations have been so good and we now have a full Squad following the arrival of Bernadettar and Vanessa on Thursday. So we are ready for the game on Saturday,” he said.
However, he downplayed the absence of captain Tabitha Chawinga, her sister Temwa and Rose Kabzere who did not make it due to logistical hitches as South Africa were in doubt to host the Scorchers.
“We don’t have some key players in the squad as compared to the Zambia matches but we trust the players that we have as the main purpose is to make the team stronger and well-coordinated.
“We know that all foreign-based players will not be there every time so their absence will give an opportunity to the local players to show us what they are capable of delivering,” said Fazili.
In the absence of the trio, Fazili will bank on Georgia-based Sabina Thom, DRC-based Benadettar Mkandawire as well as Leticia Chinyamula and Asimenye Simwaka.
During the February FIFA Women’s International Window, the Scorchers played against Zambia’s Copper Queens, losing the first match 2-0 before revenging with a 3-2 famous win in the second match.
The Scorchers last met Banyana Banyana in the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Championship group stage and the Lovemore Fazili charges won 4-3.
