BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Kukoma Ntopwa Women suffered a tough opening in the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa Qualifiers, going down 3-0 to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, two-time African champions and hosts of the tournament.
The result has put the Malawi flag bearers under pressure as they look to secure wins in their remaining Group A fixtures.
Coach Isaac Jomo Osman admitted that the team was disadvantaged by a tight schedule and long travel, which left the players with insufficient rest.
“The journey was tough, and we traveled on Thursday night, giving my players little time to recover. Football requires proper rest, and that was lacking,” Osman explained.
Despite the loss, Osman remains hopeful, emphasizing the team’s focus on bouncing back in their next matches.
Kukoma Ntopwa will face Namibia’s Beauties FC on Sunday at noon, followed by a clash with Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls FC on August 26, also at noon.
Wins in these matches are crucial if the Malawians are to stay in contention for the knockout stages.
The defeat mirrors a similar struggle in 2023, when Ntopwa failed to win any of their three matches in the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, highlighting a recurring challenge for the team on the continental stage.
Osman stressed that the team is working on recovery strategies to ensure players are physically and mentally prepared for Sunday’s encounter.
“We are hopeful that proper rest and preparation will allow our girls to perform better in the coming games,” he said.
The team’s focus now shifts to ensuring fitness, sharpening tactics, and building confidence ahead of their matches against Namibia and Zambia.
