The Malawi National Women’s football team has today lost 0-3 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a friendly match played at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus.
This was the first of the encounters between the two teams with the last match slated for Tuesday at the same venue.
The last encounter between the two sides in the Cosafa Women’s Championship in 2023, ended in favour of the Lovemore Fazili charges.
However, it was clear Banyana Banyana were out for revenge.
Nonhlanhla Mthandi hit the back of the net after 13 minutes. Linda Motlalo compounded the Scorchers’ misery with a 23rd minute goal from the spot kick after Rose Alufandika was adjudged to have handled the ball.
The hosts kept on pressing, but the Scorchers’ defense was resolute.
After recess, the Scorchers brought in Zainab Kapanga and Tendai Sani for Chisomo Banda and Fanny Magombo.
The change did not yield the desired for the Malawian ladies as the hosts dominated possession.
Speaking after the match, Fazili though the players didn’t show up as expected, he hopes to build a stronger team for the upcoming Wafcon assignment.
“The girls did not play as expected. We had problems in front and midfield and though the defence and goalkeeper tried, we have had a bad day.
“We have learnt some lessons through the game and going to the second match, we have seen the areas that need to be worked on”.
“The main was to test some players especially the new ones so that we know which team we will work with come October and we have seen that some of them need to be drilled more so that we should have the best team by the time we will be facing Angola”, said Fazili.
54′), Chisomo Banda (Zainab Kapanda 46′), Sabina Thom (Olivia Phikani 61′), Vanessa Chikupira, Letticia Chinyamula, Ireen Khumalo, Fanny Magombo (Tendai Sani 46′), Rose Alufandika, Bernadettar Mkandawire