By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Central Region’s MDF Lioness, Hammers Queens from the North, and Chitoliro Heroines from the Southern Region are set to battle for a spot in the inaugural National Bank Women’s Championship in an anticipated highly contested play-off series to be staged at Mzuzu Stadium from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19 2025.
The play-offs will determine the final team to join the other nine teams in the newly established National League, which will kick off next week as Malawi’s top-tier women’s football competition, sponsored by National Bank of Malawi.
Mzuzu City Hammers Queens from the Northern Region, MDF Lioness from the Central Region, and Chitoliro Heroines from the Southern Region will battle it out for the last available spot.
The play-off action will kick off on Thursday, 17th July, with Mzuzu City Hammers Queens facing MDF Lioness. On Friday, 18th July, Chitoliro Heroines will take on Mzuzu City Hammers Queens, before the play-offs conclude on Saturday, July 19, with MDF Lioness meeting Chitoliro Heroines. All matches will kick off at 14:30 at Mzuzu Stadium.
The winner of these play-offs will join nine teams that have already qualified, namely FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women, Ntopwa FC, and Mighty Wanderers Queens from the South; Ascent Soccer Academy, Civil Service Women, and Silver Strikers Ladies from the Centre; and Moyale Sisters, MK Academy, and Topik Sisters from the North.
MDF Lioness head coach John Kaputa says the team has prepared well for the play-offs.
“The play-offs are crucial as they will determine who joins the other nine teams in the league. As Lioness, we are geared and ready for the battle and looking forward to tough matches ahead.
“Our ambition and target is to win all our two games, and we are upbeat we will make it. It’s really difficult to play against teams we haven’t played before, but our girls are motivated,” Kaputa said.
The introduction of the National Bank Women’s League marks a significant milestone for women’s football in Malawi, ushering in a structured promotion and relegation system, with the regional leagues now serving as the second tier.
