Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili remains confident his side will be ready to test defending champions Nigeria despite a bruising 4-0 defeat to Ghana in their final warm-up match ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Scorchers endured a difficult evening at the Municipal de Berrechid Stadium on Thursday as Ghana’s Black Queens ran riot, with Doris Boaduwaa grabbing a superb hat-trick before Sharon Esinam Sampson added a fourth to complete an emphatic victory.
While the scoreline raised concerns ahead of Malawi’s tournament opener, Fazili insisted the result was secondary to the broader objective of assessing his squad before the continental showpiece.
The Malawi coach revealed that the friendly was used to rotate players and experiment with different combinations, giving several members of his squad the opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the starting lineup.
“Yes, we have lost 4-0, but we were trying to give a chance to other players,” Fazili said via the Malawi Football Federation.
“We still have the team to start next week, and I am sure we have gone the right way. We now have other players who are capable of being given a chance when we start the tournament.”
With preparations now complete, Fazili has shifted his full attention to Tuesday’s Group C clash against the Super Falcons, expressing confidence that his team will look far more cohesive when the competition gets underway.
The experienced tactician believes the coaching staff have gathered the answers they needed from the pre-tournament fixtures, particularly after assessing the team’s attacking combinations, including the integration of star forward Tabitha Chawinga.
“I am sure that when we start the tournament, the team will be in good shape and the goals will come,” he said.
“We needed to see the combination of Tabitha and the team playing together. On Tuesday next week, I think we will have a first eleven that is capable of delivering.”
Malawi’s optimism, however, will be tested against Africa’s most decorated women’s national team.
Nigeria head into the tournament as defending champions and favourites once again, with the Super Falcons aiming to extend their remarkable dominance in African women’s football. After facing Malawi in their opening fixture, Justine Madugu’s side will also take on Zambia and Egypt in the remaining Group C matches.
The nine-time African champions have received another boost ahead of the tournament after midfield duo Deborah Abiodun and Gift Monday arrived in camp, completing Madugu’s 25-player squad.
