Malawi 0-2 Zambia (Ochumba Lubandji 47′, Fridah Mukoma 68′)
The Malawi National Women’s Football team will not defend the Cosafa Women’s Championship title after losing 2-0 to Zambia in the semifinal on Thursday.
It was an exciting match with lots of expectations as the Scorchers aimed at getting a double over the Copper Queens whom they beat 2-1 in last year’s final.
Malawi had three clear cut chances in the first half but could not find the back of the net. Sabina Thom’s strike at 23 minutes landed straight into the goalkeeper’s hands while Faith Chinzimu’s long range short 5 minutes later went slightly above the cross bar.
Two minutes to the end of the first half, Chinyamula, Sani and Thom beautifully exchanged passes to set Asimenye but she missed the target.
It was goalless at half time.
Ochumba Lubandji put Zambia in the lead just a minute into the second half after a miscommunication in the Scorchers Defence .
Fridah Mukoma’s scored the second in the 68th minutes after dispossessing goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo.
Head Coach Lovemore Fazili said his side didn’t come to party in the second half as per his instruction.
“The girls played well in the first half but in the second half, they didn’t give us what we expected according to the first half performance.
“The players lost concentration in the second half and we got punished by our opponents with very easy goals. These goals affected our team because it is always hard to come back after conceding two goals from a team like Zambia so the players were already down,” Fazili.
Lineup
Mercy Sikelo, Faith Chinzimu, Pilirani Malora (Vanessa Chikupira 53′), Patricia Nyirenda, Asimenye Simwaka (Jessie Yosefe 87′), Tendai Sani, Sabina Thom, Maureen Kenneth, Leticia Chinyamula (Catherine Kachala 78′), Rose Alufandika, Bernadettar Mkandawire.
