The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has chosen Malawi as the host of the 2024 Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa Qualifier slated for next month.
Both Cosafa and Football Association of Malawi (Fam) confirmed the development Wednesday.
The tournament was initially supposed to be staged from August 16 to 23 in Durban, South Africa.
However, Cosafa is yet to confirm the exact dates for the tournament in Malawi.
This could be good news for Ascent Academy, as they will take part in the competition.
Initially, Fam expressed interest in hosting the 2024 Cosafa Under-20 Women’s Championship, with its executive committee approved the proposal during its quarterly meeting in Salima in April this year.
Fam President Fleetwood Haiya, while confirming the development, said the association has written the Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the Malawi National Council of Sports, for a guarantee to host the tournament.
“Discussions are still underway with relevant authorities on the matter. Cosafa has provided all the necessary documents and, so, we are good to go,” Haiya said.
As one of the conditions for hosting the tournament, there is a need for the availability of at least two stadia, training facilities, permit of visas, the provision of security at all matches and hotels where teams will be lodging.
There is also a need for the provision of medical facilities such as fully fledged ambulances and the presence of big hospitals within a radius of 20 kilometres from venues of the matches.
Cosafa will be responsible for the accommodation of all teams.
This, coincidentally, is the biggest expense.
Cosafa will also be responsible for local transport of all teams and officials.
In addition, the regional football governing body will bring experts to train referees and coaches, among other things.
This comes one month after the Flames failed to take part in the 2024 Cosafa Men’ Championship following the death of former state vice president Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others.
They died in a plane crash in Chikangawa Forest, Mzimba District, on June 10 this year.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Macmillan Mwale said they would wait for official communication from those that are handling the issue.
“We will comment on the matter after we get the official communication,” Mwale said.
On his part, Ascent Director of Operations Thom Mkolongo said playing at home in an international tournament will be an advantage to them.
“We will try our best to utilise home ground advantage,” Mkolongo said.
Ascent qualified for the Caf Champions League after winning the 2023 Goshen Fam Women Championship held in May this year.
Last year, Ntopwa FC took part in the tournament but exited in the group stages.
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