Scorchers set for showdown
Malawi National Women’s Football Team coach McNebert Kazuwa says nothing can stop the Scorchers from defeating hosts Zambia’s Copper Queens at their backyard in Lusaka this afternoon.
It is a must-win first round, second leg of the 2022 Morocco Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
Malawi came from behind to force a one-all draw in the first leg at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last Wednesday and must win today’s match at Nkoloma Stadium to progress to the next round.
Kazuwa yesterday said Zambia’s home ground advantage is merely on paper and they have left no stone unturned to qualify for the second round for the first time.
“We have tightened the loose ends and we are ready for the battle. With our usual attacking and counter-pressing football, we are optimistic of victory,” he said.
“The girls are physically, mentally and tactically set to make things happen regardless of the fact that we are playing away.”
This is the first time in nine years that the Scorchers are competing in the Afcon qualifiers and during the last time in 2012, the two teams also met and Zambia triumphed 9-4 on aggregate.
The Scorchers last beat Zambia in the group stages of the 2020 Cosafa Women’s Championship in South Africa 1-0 triumph, courtesy of China-based Temwa Chawinga’s strike.
However, the Scorchers are now without Temwa and her elder sister Tabitha, who have not been released by their Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Zambia are also without their China-based inspirational skipper Barbara Banda. Prisca Chilufya who plays for BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan and Rachael Nachula from Spanish side Zaragoza also failed to travel.
In a bid to have a formidable attacking Scorchers’ squad, Kazuwa and his technical panel made three changes to the squad that reached the recent Cosafa Women Championship final for the first time.
Rose Kabzere, Jesse Yosefe and Mary Chabvinda have found their way into the final 20-player travelling squad, replacing Limbikani Chikupira, Carolyne Mathyola and Lyna James.
Zambia coach Bruce Mwape was quoted by Zambia’s Daily Mail as having said they will seek to leverage on their home and first leg away goal advantage to wrap up their passage to the next round.
Today’s winner will face Namibia, who have advanced after a 5-3 aggregate win over Tanzania.
