Malawi Women’s National Football Team Coach Lovemore Fazili has said there are several positives drawn from their first friendly international match against Zambia’s Copper Queens in Lusaka, Zambia Sunday.
The Scorchers lost 2-0 to Zambia at Reiz Arena in a match played over two days after it was abandoned on Saturday due to a heavy downpour.
At the time of abandonment on Saturday, Zambia were leading 1-0 courtesy of Avell Chitundu’s goal in the 23rd minute.
Then, the two teams named unchanged sides as the match continued yesterday at the same venue.
Rachel Kundananji scored a stunning freekick in the 73rd minute of the match to end Scorchers’ hopes of a comeback in front of a huge crowd.
But Fazili, whose side has lost two consecutive matches to the Copper Queens after a similar result during the 2024 Cosafa Championship, said he was not reading too much into Sunday’s results.
“Zambia gave us a good test. I am not focusing much on the results but the overall performance of the team was good,” Fazili said.
Despite featuring the Chawinga sisters of Tabitha and Temwa, the Scorchers were guilty of wasting several scoring opportunities, especially Sunday.
On the other hand, Zambia goalkeeper Catherine Musonda made several saves to keep her side in the tie.
But Fazili said he would rectify the challenges heading into tomorrow’s match at the same venue.
“We have learnt a lot from the match. Zambia scored both goals from set pieces; as such, we need to do more. Again, we all need to be clinical in front of goal. We had a lot of chances but did not utilise our chances,” he said.
The Scorchers featured players such as Sabina Thom, Rose Kabzere, Chimwemwe Madise and Ireen Khumalo.
On the other hand, Zambia had reigning Caf Women’s Footballer Barbra Banda, Kundananji and Racheal Nachura.
Malawi and Zambia will face each other in the second friendly match at the same venue Tuesday.
The Scorchers are using the friendly match as part of preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier second-round match scheduled for October.
The team will face either Angola or Zimbabwe.
0 Comments