Malawi Women’s National Football Team are keeping fingers in their quest to defend the Cosafa Women’s Championship as their progression to the last four is not entirely in their hands.
The Scorchers must beat Group B whipping girls Mauritius this afternoon with a wide margin and also hope that leaders Botswana are held by Madagascar.
Both games will start at noon today.
Currently, Botswana and Malawi are tied at four points each but the former lead on goal difference having scored four more goals.
Malawi started their title defence bluntly when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Botswana.
In the next fixture, the Scorchers narrowly won 1-0 against Madagascar on Saturday, through a goal from Asimenye Simwaka.
It was expected that the arrival of Democratic Republic of Congo striker Sabina Thom will help the Scorchers to rediscover their scoring boots but that has not been the case.
Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili is upbeat that his charges can sail through to the last four.
“The group is still wide but we are confident that the girls will show a greater character,” he said.
Scorchers have a lot of match winners but lack of composure in the final third has been a major problem.
Local sports analyst Mwakhele Kaliande, who is in South Africa monitoring the games, said to progress Malawi must beat Mauritius by at least six or more goals but that will also depend on the outcome of Botswana and Madagascar game.
“Group B is one of the tricky groups this far in the tournament with Madagascar producing one of their ever best performances at this stage that is making their game against Botswana the most difficult one as compared to Malawi versus Mauritius where the Scorchers would really want a high marginal win.
“However Fazili has a tough assignment of making sure the girls come with their scoring boots to the Monday game as that has been the challenge of the defending champions this far. Chances of progressing to the semis are still alive for the Scorchers but that is not fully in their control as the result between Botswana and Madagascar will have a bearing with the Malawi team hoping Madagascar will keep their defence supremacy against Botswana having only conceded twice so far,” Kaliande said.
The Scorchers won the cup last year when they defeated Zambia 2-1 in the final.
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