Scorchers Head Coach Lovemore Fazili has described Malawi’s group at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as tough but inspiring, saying it presents a true test of character for his side.
Reacting to the draw, Fazili acknowledged the quality of the opponents but stressed that the challenge offers Malawi an opportunity to compete and grow on the continental stage.
“On paper, we have been drawn against big teams. It is called the group of death for a reason, but that also gives us hope and motivation to fight at the highest level,” said Fazili. “We have the defending champions in our group, so we need to analyse all our opponents thoroughly.”
The Malawi Women’s National Team, the Scorchers, have been drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Zambia, and Egypt. The tournament will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
Malawi will open their WAFCON campaign against Nigeria on 18 March, face Egypt three days later, and conclude the group stage against neighbours Zambia on 24 March.
Fazili emphasized that preparations will be intensive, with the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship playing a key role, particularly in involving local-based players to strengthen squad depth.
“Our preparations will be stiff. We will utilise COSAFA to give opportunities to local players so that we go to Morocco strong,” he said. “We are not changing the squad, but we will expand it to fix loopholes and improve competition within the team.”
Malawi secured their first-ever WAFCON qualification after a 2–0 aggregate victory over Angola at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, marking a historic milestone for women’s football in the country.
