FIFA U-17 WWC: ‘Malawi not in Burundi for fun’ – Nkhoma

Malawi under-17 women’s national team coach Chisomo Nkhoma has declared that her girls are not in Burundi for fun but to score more goals in Saturday’s match.

She said this ahead of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying round second leg scheduled for Stade Intwari in Bujumbura.

 

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The Young Scorchers have their backs to the wall as they lost the first leg 1-2 to Burundi in Lilongwe last Saturday. Only a two-goal margin victory would see the Malawians through.

Nkhoma declares war on Burundi

Speaking to the Malawi FA media, Nkhoma declared total war on their Burundian counterparts, describing the game as a must-win.

“The girls are well-prepared and everyone is focused…I have reminded the girls on the importance of the game and the gravity of winning the game tomorrow,” said the coach.

“The environment is different but still, that can not define us not to play…My girls are well focused, and I have encouraged everyone to put more pressure and to work as a team.”

How Malawi will approach Burundi

Nkhoma gave tactical insights into the Young Scorchers’ approach to the second leg, emphasising attacking efficiency and defensive discipline.

“What we want is a win, so I have motivated the girls to be more composed. Everyone should concentrate and play according to our game plan. If we execute our game plan well, it will be easy to conquer and win the game,” she added.

“For us to score, we need to be more disciplined and organised in every department. From our defending zone, I have encouraged the girls to be more disciplined so that we should not concede.

“Coming to our final third and attacking third, I have instructed the girls to be aggressive and attack so that we should score more goals.”

The overall winner of the two legs between Malawi and Burundi will advance to the next round to meet either South Sudan or Ethiopia.

There is one more round to produce the finalists for the tenth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The world tournament will take place in Morocco from 17 October to 7 November 2026, with 24 sides set to battle it out.