By Rahim Abdul
Malawi’s national women’s football team, the Scorchers, may have suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania on Tuesday, but head coach Lovemore Fazili believes the performance offered plenty of positives as the team continues its preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The international friendly, played at KMC Stadium in Tanzania, provided a valuable opportunity for the Scorchers to assess their readiness ahead of the continental showpiece set for next month in Morocco.
Tanzania captain Anastanzia Katunzi scored the decisive goal three minutes into the second half, finding the back of the net in the 48th minute to hand the hosts a narrow victory.
Despite the result, Fazili praised his players for their overall display, insisting that the scoreline did not fully reflect the balance of play during the encounter.
The Scorchers created several scoring opportunities throughout the match and looked dangerous in attack, but poor finishing prevented them from turning their chances into goals.
Fazili admitted that his side could have won by a comfortable margin had they been more clinical in front of goal, describing missed opportunities as the biggest setback of the afternoon.
The coach, however, expressed satisfaction with the team’s fighting spirit, discipline, and ability to compete against a strong Tanzanian side away from home.
Looking ahead, Fazili said the technical panel has already identified areas that require improvement and will use the coming days to address those weaknesses before the next meeting between the two teams.
Malawi and Tanzania are scheduled to face each other again on Saturday in another friendly match, giving the Scorchers an immediate opportunity to test the adjustments made after Tuesday’s encounter.
