The Young Scorchers of Malawi will need to overturn a first-leg deficit after losing 2–1 at home to Burundi in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The match, played at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday, saw the hosts make a promising start before conceding twice, handing Burundi a narrow but significant advantage ahead of the return fixture.
Malawi took the lead in the 14th minute through Enelesi Fabiano, sparking celebrations among the home supporters who had gathered in large numbers. The early goal appeared to set the tone for a confident performance by the Young Scorchers.
However, the visitors responded with determination, drawing level just 11 minutes later. Burundi continued to press and capitalised again shortly after the break, scoring five minutes into the second half to turn the game around.
Despite late pressure from Malawi, Burundi maintained their composure to secure the win, leaving the hosts with a one-goal deficit to overcome in the second leg, scheduled for 18 April in Burundi.
Speaking after the match, Malawi head coach Chisomo Nkhoma described the result as disappointing, particularly given the home advantage.
“It was a bad day for us because we were playing at home and had all the advantages. We started the game well, but it went the opposite way as we conceded two goals, which is now our disadvantage,” she said.
The defeat puts Malawi in a challenging position, as they must now travel away needing a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive. Despite this, Nkhoma expressed confidence that her side can still progress.
“We are going to their home, which gives them an advantage, but we are not giving up. We know we still have a chance and we will go there to fight, win and score more goals,” she added.
The coach also pointed to specific areas where her team must improve if they are to turn the tie around. She noted that Burundi controlled more possession and made effective use of long passes, which troubled the Malawian defence.
“Our opponents enjoyed more possession and used long balls effectively. We were second on the ball. We need to be more aggressive and improve our finishing because we were not clinical enough,” she said.
The second leg now becomes decisive for both sides, with Burundi holding a slender advantage. For Malawi, the focus will be on addressing their shortcomings and delivering a stronger performance away from home.
With qualification for the global tournament at stake, the outcome of the return match will determine whether the Young Scorchers can recover from this setback or see their campaign come to an early end.
