The Football Association of Malawi has announced Blantyre-based designer Thandi Phiri as the winner of the Scorchers Limited Edition Kit Design Competition.
Launched on 4 January 2026, the competition invited creatives from across the country to submit innovative designs for a special Malawi National Women’s Team kit to be used at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
The contest attracted 137 entries nationwide which were assessed by a Kit Design Competition Committee comprising FAM Executive Committee Member Felister Dossi, sports merchandise expert Shabil Ismail of Into Sports, and renowned marketer Twikale Chirwa, who also serves on the FAM Competitions and Marketing Committee.
After a rigorous evaluation process, Phiri’s submission stood out for its creativity, originality, and full compliance with CAF kit regulations, earning her top honours.
Speaking during the announcement, Felister Dossi described the initiative as a milestone for Malawian football.
“This is the first time we have gone to the public to solicit designs for a national team kit. With the Scorchers qualifying for the WAFCON finals, we felt it was important to introduce a limited-edition kit to mark this historic achievement,” she said.
Dossi explained that 11 designs were shortlisted from the initial submissions before the final winner was selected.
“We assessed creativity and originality, but also strict compliance with CAF regulations governing kits worn at this level of competition. The winning design met all those requirements,” she added.
On the unveiling of the jersey, Dossi confirmed:
“The public should expect the official unveiling of the jersey in the first week of March.”
Reacting to her win, Phiri expressed gratitude and surprise.
“It was unexpected, and I am grateful to God. With so many entries, I never imagined I would be selected as the winner of the Scorchers AFCON jersey,” she said.
She revealed that her concept was inspired by the Scorchers’ historic journey to the continental finals.
“I started by researching how far the team has come—the losses, the wins, and the long journey of building the squad,” Phiri explained.
“I focused on symbols of femininity, elements of the Malawi sun from our flag, and representations of women, sport, and the people supporting the team back home.”
The Scorchers secured qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Angola 2–0 on aggregate, marking the first-ever appearance of the team at the tournament finals.
At the finals, Malawi has been drawn in Group C, alongside Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt.
