FAM rewards Scorchers players with MK1.5 Million each for qualifying for 2026 WAFCON

The roar that erupted from Bingu National Stadium on Tuesday evening was more than celebration—it was the sound of history being written. As Faith Chinzimu’s second goal settled into the net, sealing a 2-0 victory over Angola, the Malawi Women’s Football National Team crossed a threshold that had eluded them for over two decades.

The Scorchers had done it. They were going to Morocco for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

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In recognition of this monumental achievement, the Football Association of Malawi has announced that each player will receive MK1.5 million as a token of appreciation for securing the nation’s first-ever WAFCON qualification since the team’s formation in 2002.

“We are very happy with the achievements of this team,” declared FAM President Fleetwood Haiya, his voice carrying the weight of years of investment and hope. “We have invested a lot in the team and this was our main target. We tried to give them our support by arranging friendly matches, and we are happy with the qualification.”

Faith Chinzimu became the architect of Malawi’s dreams on Tuesday, delivering two crucial late-game strikes that broke Angola’s resistance and sent the Bingu National Stadium into delirium. Her performance was a masterclass in composure under pressure, each goal a testament to the preparation and belief that had been building within the squad.

The 2-0 victory was emphatic, but the journey to this moment was anything but straightforward.

This qualification was no accident, no stroke of fortune plucked from thin air. It was the culmination of years of patient cultivation, beginning with the Cosafa Cup triumph of 2023—that first green shoot of belief that Malawian women’s football could compete at the highest levels.

The Football Association of Malawi had courted the National Bank of Malawi, securing approximately MK1 billion for women’s football—a sum that bankrolled not just dreams but the nation’s first-ever Women’s Football League. This was investment as an act of faith, a commitment to building infrastructure and creating pathways for the next generation.

The money funded training camps, friendly matches, equipment, and coaching development. It created a professional environment where players could focus on their craft rather than worry about basic logistics. The return on that investment arrived Tuesday night in the form of two goals and a ticket to Morocco.

The euphoria spilled beyond the stadium’s confines like water breaking through a dam. Fans escorted the team’s bus through Lilongwe’s streets, creating a traffic jam of joy that paralyzed the capital for hours. Vehicles honked in rhythm, supporters danced on street corners, and strangers embraced as if they were lifelong friends.

The city itself seemed to pause, caught in the amber of this singular moment. Businesses emptied as workers poured into the streets. Social media exploded with tributes, videos, and messages of congratulations. This was more than a football qualification—it was a collective release of years of frustration, disappointment, and unfulfilled potential.

The road to Morocco had been paved with heartbreak and controversy, making Tuesday’s triumph all the sweeter.

Malawi had waited months before facing Angola, advancing to the second round only after Congo’s withdrawal due to inadequate preparation. Some criticized the manner of progression, but the team used the time wisely, preparing intensively for the challenge that lay ahead.

The wound of 2022 still ached—when Zambia extinguished their WAFCON dreams with a 4-3 aggregate defeat in the qualifiers. That loss had been cruel, decided by the narrowest of margins, and it left scars that took time to heal.

But it was the 2024 withdrawal that cut deepest. Financial constraints forced FAM to pull out of WAFCON qualifiers, a decision that triggered fierce criticism from across the nation. The condemnation came from all quarters, including from the team’s brightest stars—the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, whose international profiles gave weight to their disappointment.

That withdrawal became a rallying cry. It exposed the fragility of women’s football infrastructure and sparked a national conversation about investment, commitment, and respect for female athletes. In many ways, the MK1 billion investment that followed was a direct response to that painful moment.

“A Welcome Gift for a New President- Haiya”

The qualification arrives at a symbolically significant moment for Malawi. Just one month ago, the nation elected a new president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, and Haiya views the Scorchers’ achievement as a perfect welcome gift.

“We are very happy and I think the girls have welcomed Professor Mutharika well,” Haiya said. “We are also thanking him for the support, and I hope the girls have given him good reason to invite them.”

The FAM president went further, calling on President Mutharika to host a state luncheon honoring the team—a gesture that would elevate the achievement to the level of national significance it deserves. Such recognition would send a powerful message about the value placed on women’s sport in the new administration.

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for March and April next year, represents uncharted territory for Malawian women’s football. The tournament will bring together the continent’s elite teams, providing a platform for the Scorchers to test themselves against the best.

The Bigger Picture

This qualification transcends sport. It represents a shift in how Malawi values its female athletes, how it invests in their development, and how it celebrates their achievements. The journey from the disappointment of 2024’s withdrawal to the jubilation of 2025’s qualification tells a story of resilience, strategic investment, and collective belief.

As Lilongwe’s streets slowly returned to normal Tuesday night, the team bus carrying the Scorchers disappeared into the darkness, but the light they had ignited would burn far longer. They had not just qualified for a tournament—they had qualified a generation of young girls to believe that they, too, could represent their nation on the biggest stages.

The road to Morocco begins now, but the journey that made it possible started years ago, with a vision, a billion kwacha, and the unwavering belief that Malawian women’s football deserved its place in the sun.

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from March to April 2026.