Malawi women’s national football team, the Scorchers, arrived at the COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 carrying high expectations from supporters across the country.
Having lifted the regional crown in 2023 and finished runners up in 2024, many Malawians believed the team had both the momentum and quality to reclaim the title.
However, football once again proved that reputation alone cannot guarantee success.
This year’s campaign ended earlier than many had hoped, with the Scorchers exiting in the preliminary round.
While the result disappointed fans, a closer look at the team’s performances suggests that the story of the tournament was more complex than simply success or failure.
In three group matches, Malawi managed two victories and suffered only one defeat. The team beat Lesotho in spectacular fashion, hammering them 8–1, and later secured a narrow but important 1–0 win against Angola.
Their only loss came against hosts South Africa, who defeated Malawi 2–0 in a match that ultimately shaped the group standings.
The heavy victory over Lesotho demonstrated the attacking power that has become one of the Scorchers’ greatest strengths.
The forward line looked confident and creative, combining speed with clinical finishing. For a team that scored eight goals in a single match, there is little doubt that Malawi possesses serious firepower going forward.
Yet the defeat to South Africa exposed a weakness that has quietly been growing over the past two seasons the defence.
While the midfield and attack have often carried the team, the backline has struggled against stronger opponents.
The match against South Africa highlighted lapses in marking and defensive organization that proved costly.
This imbalance between defence and attack is becoming a pattern.
In previous COSAFA campaigns, Malawi’s structure appeared more balanced, which helped them secure the title in 2023 and reach the final in 2024.
The current squad still has quality, but the defensive unit needs urgent strengthening if the team hopes to compete consistently at the highest level.
Another noticeable difference this year was squad composition. Head coach Lovemore Fazili relied on fewer foreign based players than in previous tournaments.
In earlier COSAFA competitions, the coach often fielded several professionals who play their club football outside Malawi.
This season, however, only four professional players were included in the squad.
The reduced number of professionals may have influenced the team’s overall balance and experience on the pitch.
Professional players often bring tactical discipline and exposure to higher levels of competition, qualities that can make a significant difference in tight tournament matches.
Despite the early exit, the Scorchers did achieve an important milestone by qualifying for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time in their history. That achievement alone marks a significant step forward for women’s football in Malawi.
Coach Fazili himself remained optimistic after the tournament, praising the team’s fighting spirit and growth.
According to the coach, the lessons learned during this competition will be crucial as the squad prepares to compete on the bigger continental stage.
