Full Time
Malawi 1 (Sabinah Thom 66′) -1 Zambia (Grace Chanda 21′)
The Malawi National women’s team, The Scorchers on Wednesday afternoon drew one-all with Zambia in the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifier first round, first leg match at Bingu National Stadium.
Grace Chanda scored first for the visitors before Sabina Thom’s equaliser in the second half
Zambia took control of the first half and won a penalty just 5 minutes into the match after a handball in the box but Margaret Belemu’s spotkick went wide.
The Brice Mwape’s side kept on pressurising the Scorchers and Grace Chanda finally broke the deadlock at 21 minutes when she lobbed over the advancing Scorchers keeper Ruth Mhango from outside the box.
Zambia led 1-0 at half time.
The Scorchers came back a different side in the second half as they searched for an equaliser.
It finally came at 66 minutes when Sabina Thom headed home from close range after a head pass from Asimenye Simwaka
The visitors re-organised themselves and created more scoring opportunities to regain their lead but were frustrated by keeper Mhango, who had a fantastic second half .
One-all it ended and Scorchers Coach McNelbert Kazuwa expressed his disappointment with a draw at home .
“We lost control in the first half because we were loose in the midfield and we’re not creative enough in the box. At half time, we talked to our girls not to give up but press harder and they did exactly that hence the equaliser.
“We had a number of chances in the second half and if we had utilised them, we could have scored more goals.
“We are going to work on the mistakes that we made here and come second leg, we are going to work very hard so that get a resulut in Lusaka,” said Kazuwa.
Zambia will host Malawi at Nkoloma Stadium in the second leg on Tuesday October 26.
The aggregate winner between the two will meet the winner between Tanzania and Namibia in the second round.
Malawi: Ruth Mhango, Chimwemwe Madise, Patricia Nyirenda, Ruth Nyirongo, Ireen Khumalo, Madyina Nguluwe, Zainab Kapanda, Wezzie Mvula (Carolyne Mathyola 80′), Rose Kabzere-debut (Fazila Chembekezo 50′), Asimenye Simwaka, Sabina Thom
Zambia: Petronella Musole, Rachael Kundananji, Ochumba Oseke, Mary Wilombe, Martha Tembo, Margaret Belemu, Lushomo Mweemba (Patricia Lampi 77′), Grace Chanda, Evarine Katongo (Siomala Mapepa 63′), Elizabeth Mupeso (Milika Limwanya 52′), Agness Musase.
