Fazili praises local talent in Scorchers dominant win over Lesotho

The Malawi Women’s National Football Team got their two-match friendly series against Lesotho off to a commanding start with a convincing 3-0 victory at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre on Friday afternoon.

Asimenye Simwaka was the star of the show, opening the scoring in the 10th minute after capitalizing on a goalkeeping error with her trademark high pressing. She doubled the advantage just before half-time, rising majestically to head home a precise cross from Ireen Khumalo.

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The Scorchers controlled the first half completely, taking a deserved 2-0 lead into the break. Captain Sabina Thom put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute, calmly finishing to cap off a dominant display that showcased Malawi’s hunger, control, and clinical finishing.

“Fazili impressed with Local contingent”

Head Coach Lovemore Fazili expressed particular satisfaction with his predominantly local squad’s performance, highlighting the emergence of several promising talents.

“It was a fair game and a good result, but mostly we are trying to check coordination between the players,” Fazili said after the match. “We have more local players now, so it’s very impressive to see some of them getting valuable minutes.”

The coach was especially pleased with his defensive unit, noting that most of the backline consists of local players yet to turn professional. “I’m very impressed looking at the defenders – they are mostly local players who have yet to play professional football.”

Fazili singled out several young prospects for praise: “Looking at players like Fatima Ali and Fanny Moyo, just to mention a few, I’m really impressed because they have the heart to play when given the opportunity. These are Under-17 and Under-20 players featuring for the senior national team. We’re giving them confidence, and they will definitely be future cornerstones for the Scorchers.”

“Learning opportunity for newcomers”

The coach also addressed goalkeeper Hope Chikunga’s debut, showing patience with the Ekhaya player who struggled with nerves in her first international appearance.

“She is affected mentally because it was her first game for the national team,” Fazili explained. “I substituted her not because she played poorly, but because we wanted her to experience what international football feels like. She’s a very good player and will definitely get another chance on Sunday.”

Despite the convincing scoreline, Fazili identified areas needing attention, particularly in midfield where coordination broke down at times.

“We started well, building from the back, but when the ball reached midfield, our players had some difficulties,” he noted. “That’s football – we will rectify these problems and polish them before our next game.”

The coach acknowledged a natural drop in intensity during the second half but wasn’t overly concerned. “The players relaxed because we were leading 2-0 from the first half. It happens in football when you’re ahead, but we still managed to score another goal.”

These friendlies serve as crucial preparation for Malawi’s upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola. The Scorchers have endured a challenging run of form this year, with Friday’s victory representing just their second win in seven international friendlies.

Their recent record includes a memorable 3-2 comeback victory over Zambia after trailing 2-0, but also heavy defeats to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana (3-0 and 2-1 in April), Morocco (4-2), and Ghana (3-1) in June.

The second friendly against Lesotho takes place on Sunday, providing Fazili with another opportunity to assess his squad and continue building the coordination between local and foreign-based players ahead of the crucial WAFCON qualifiers.