The Malawi National Women’s Football team, have begun their Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship title defence with a point having drawn 1-1 against rivals Botswana.
Botswana closed Asimenye Simwaka scoring opportunities twice in the opening. However, they were awakened when Malawi won a corner-kick just before the half-hour mark with Faith Chinzimu picking up a loose ball to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.
However, Botswana equalised just 12 minutes later through Laone Moloi’s effortless goal.
The 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship got underway yesterday in Group A that saw eSwatini leading on goal difference after beating debutantes Seychelles 6-0 while South Africa edged neighbours Namibia 1-0.
These results means that Madagascar now leads Group B with 3 points while Malawi and Botswana each have 1 point.
Malawi lifted the 2023 edition after winning all their games, however the Scorchers have had some tough tussles with Botswana down the years, including a 1-1 draw in 2022 and a 0-2 loss in 2018.
Meanwhile, Day 3 on Thursday will see the opening matches in Group C and Group D, which only have three teams in each pools.
Malawi’s next game is scheduled for October 26, where they will face Madagascar as they aim to secure their first win of the tournament, which is being held in South Africa.
However, National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) Chairperson Adellaide Migogo has challenged Malawi Women’s National Football Team players to use the absence of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, as a stepping stone to show their prowess.
“Much as we wanted the seven key players to be part of the squad but it couldn’t be possible because most of them have club commitments. But this is an opportunity for the girls to showcase their talent while defending the cup,” she said.
The Chawinga sisters and five other key players are not part of this Scorchers’ squad during the Cosafa Women’s Championship title defence.
The Scorchers are also without France-based attacker Rose Kabzere, US-based striker Chioma Okafor, Chimwemwe Madise who plays in Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia-based duo Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Irene Khumalo.
