Fresh from their historic qualification for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Malawi’s Scorchers have shifted focus back to club football as the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership concludes its first round this weekend.
The inaugural 10-team elite women’s league has been dominated by Silver Strikers Ladies, who sit comfortably at the summit with 24 points from eight matches — boasting a 100% winning record. They lead second-placed Ascent Soccer, who have 19 points, by five.
The log leaders will look to close the round in style when they host MK Academy (8th, 4 points) at Silver Stadium on Sunday at 14h30, while Ascent Soccer will also be in action at the same time, hosting Kukoma Ntopwa Women (6th, 12 points) at Ascent Ground.
In another crucial tie, third-placed MDF Lionesses (14 points) travel to Blantyre to face Mighty Wanderers Queens (5th, 13 points) at Mpira Stadium on Saturday morning from 10h00.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women, who share 13 points with Wanderers but sit fourth on goal difference, will wrap up their first-round campaign with an away fixture against Civil Service United Women (7th, 9 points) at Civo Stadium, also on Saturday at 14h30.
Meanwhile, the northern region will host the battle at the bottom as Topik Academy (10th, 1 point) seek their first win when they face Moyale Sisters (9th, 4 points) at Mzuzu Stadium on Sunday morning at 10h00.
The weekend fixtures will also mark the return of several Scorchers stars to club action following Malawi’s landmark 2–0 aggregate victory over Angola, which sealed their first-ever WAFCON qualification.
Among the home-based Scorchers returning to domestic duty are Mercy Sikelo (Kukoma Ntopwa), Asimenye Simwaka and Sabina Thom (both MDF Lionesses), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers Ladies), Rose Alufandika (Kukoma Ntopwa), and Bernadetta Mkandawire (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women).
They featured alongside foreign-based stars Tabitha Chawinga (Olympique Lyonnais, France), Faith Chimzimu (BK Häcken, Sweden), Rose Kabzere (Montpellier, France), Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe, DRC), and Vanessa Chikupila (BIIK Kazygurt, Kazakhstan).
Substitutes included Ireen Sibande (Silver Ladies), Maureen Kenneth and Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Soccer), Olivia Phikani and Sarah Mulimbika (Ntopwa), Tendai Sani (ZISD), and Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens, Zambia).
