The Malawi Under-20 Women’s National Football team delivered a commanding performance to secure a crucial 2-0 victory over South Sudan in the second round of the Poland 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers at Juba National Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
The Junior Scorchers took control early and maintained their dominance throughout the match. Enelesi Fabiano broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with a well-taken goal, before Sarah Mulimbika sealed the victory in the 64th minute to give Malawi a significant advantage heading into the second leg on September 26th at the same venue.
From the opening whistle, the Young Scorchers showed intent to attack, consistently probing the South Sudan defense. Their own defensive unit, anchored by fullbacks Maureen Kenneth and Olivia Phikani alongside center-backs Talandira Chinyamula and Asimenye Mwanyongo, remained resolute against the hosts’ counter-attacks.
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The midfield partnership of Leticia Chinyamula and Funny Moyo proved instrumental, with Moyo’s creative passing and ball control creating numerous opportunities for the attacking trio of Sarah Mulimbika on the left wing, Kondawo Banda on the right, and forwards Enelesi Fabiano and Fatima Lali.
Coach Maggie Chombo-Sadick made a tactical substitution in the 35th minute, bringing on Victoria Mkwala for the struggling Kondawo Banda. The change paid immediate dividends as Fabiano capitalized on excellent build-up play, beating her marker in the box before finishing confidently with her left foot to give Malawi the lead going into halftime.
The second half showcased Malawi’s technical superiority. Mulimbika tormented the South Sudan defense with her pace and skill on the left flank before receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Moyo. Her attempted cross found its way into the back of the net in the 64th minute, doubling Malawi’s advantage.
The Young Scorchers continued to create chances, with Lali and Mkwala coming close to extending the lead. Mulimbika also tested the defense with a powerful left-footed effort that was blocked. The team’s fluid passing between midfield, attack, and defense demonstrated their tactical discipline and game management.
Head coach Maggie Chombo-Sadick expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of securing a strong away result.
“I told the girls that we are here for two games and that we need to do better in the game that we are away, so I’m very pleased with the performance today,” Chombo-Sadick said.
She praised the impact of her first-half substitution and credited her team’s tactical preparation: “We have been analyzing South Sudan and their dangerous players, which helped us silence them in the game.”
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This victory builds on Malawi’s impressive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, following their earlier triumph over Central African Republic. The tournament path was established in December 2024 when CAF conducted the qualifiers draw in Cairo.
The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland will feature 24 nations, with four spots allocated to African representatives. From an initial field of 38 African teams competing for these coveted positions, the qualifiers follow a knockout format over four rounds of home-and-away fixtures.
Malawi, ranked among the 12 lowest-seeded teams based on previous U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying performances, successfully navigated the first round to join the 26 pre-qualified teams in the second round.
With this 2-0 first-leg advantage, Malawi are well-positioned to advance to the Round of 16. The second leg takes place on Friday, September 26, 2025, again in South Sudan, as the Bingu National Stadium will be hosting a CAF Champions League match between Silver Strikers and Elgeco Plus.
Should they progress, the Young Scorchers will face either Guinea Bissau or Congo in the third round, with the first leg scheduled for February 6-8, 2026, and the return leg on February 12-14.
Success in the third round would set up a quarter-final clash, where victory would secure one of Africa’s four spots at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
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