Malawi will contest the first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in its history when they face Cameroon, with head coach Lovemore Fazili saying the Scorchers now want to complete their remarkable campaign by winning the competition.
The achievement has already made history for Malawi, who are appearing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. Their route to the final has included the elimination of Nigeria, a result that sparked widespread celebrations across the country.
Fazili said the scale of the reaction had been clear even before Malawi secured their place in the final, but that the excitement had grown further since the landmark victory.
“Joy, nothing but joy. It will be a celebration. The whole country, yes. It is our country. Here, people are already happy. The country was already happy when we beat Nigeria. So imagine now that we are in the final… How happy are they? They are more than 200% happy.”
The Malawi coach is aware that the occasion carries importance well beyond the match itself. The team’s progress has given the country another reason to celebrate, while the final offers the Scorchers the chance to turn an historic first appearance into a continental triumph.
Fazili made it clear that reaching the final was not the end of Malawi’s ambition. Although the team has already exceeded expectations by going this far, he said the players were determined to challenge for the trophy against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses.
“Because for us too, it is the first time we have reached the final. We want to win too.”
Malawi’s story at this tournament has therefore moved quickly from making history to pursuing a title. Their qualification for the final, secured after overcoming Nigeria, has already brought immense pride and happiness to the country. The next challenge is to produce one more performance capable of delivering the biggest achievement in the Scorchers’ history.
Despite expressing that desire, Fazili was careful not to predict the outcome. He said the final would be decided by what the two teams produced on the pitch and that both sides would have to accept the result.
“So for tomorrow’s match, I repeat: may the best team win. That is the only answer I can give you.”
The final will give Malawi the opportunity to build on a campaign that has already transformed their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations appearance into a historic occasion. Against Cameroon, the Scorchers will attempt to write another chapter in their history, this time by ending the tournament as African champions.
