WAFCON (Q): Chinzimu’s double floors Angola, Malawi seals ticket

Sensational Faith Chinzimu’s late brace sent Malawi to their maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals after overcoming Angola with a 2-0 victory in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

The Sweden-based 18-year-old striker scored twice inside two minutes to deflate the Angolans who had matched the hosts pound for pound and even wasted a clear scoring opportunity when they hit the post from the penalty spot in the first half.

The Scorchers welcomed the Angolans at Bingu National Stadium in the final qualifying round second leg match aware that only a victory would see them over the line following a goalless first-leg result in Luanda last Thursday.

Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili stuck to the starting XI that came from Angola unscathed with skipper Tabitha Chawinga leading from the front, Mercy Sikelo manning the posts and Chimwemwe Madisa coming the backline.

Malawi suffered a huge scare when they lost possession in the middle of the park for Angola to release Alexandre Soares who raced clear, went past goalkeeper Marcy Sikelo but skied her effort under pressure following Chimwemwe Madise’s sliding tackle in the 21^st minute.

Two minutes later, Chawinga responded for Malawi when she weaved her way into the box from the left before dispatching a ball whose flight did not match with the positioning of winger Asimenye Simwaka.

Angola earned a penalty in the 40^th minute after a foul but the otherwise reliable Patricia Seteco sent her effort crashing against the left post much to the relief of the home crowd.

The first-half ended goalless but not before a five-minute cooling break in view of the humid conditions with temperatures rising to in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

How Malawi’s second-half substitutions turned the game around for WAFCON qualification

Malawi technical panel made chances inside 10 minutes into the second half, withdrawing Kabzere and Sabitha Thom while introducing the fresh attacking legs of Chisomo Banda and Lettecia Chinyamula.

The changes sparked some life into the Scorchers attack as the hosts finally broke the deadlock through Chinzimu with eight minutes remaining on the clock.

A minute later, the youngster, who recently signed for Swedish side Häcken FC from Ascent Academy in Lilongwe, put the game beyond the reach of Angola with her second goal to seal the Scorchers’ ticket to finals.

For coach Fazili it is a matter of personal pride, becoming the first-ever coach to take the Scorchers to the WAFCON finals, two years after leading them to their first-ever COSAFA Women’s Championship title in South Africa. As went to press, the party had just began in Lilongwe.

Starting Line-ups:

Malawi: Mercy Sikelo, Bernadetter Mkandawire, Vanessa Chikupira, Irene Khumalo, Rose Alufandika, Chimwemwe Madise, Rose Kabzere, Asimenye Simwaka, Sabina Thom, Faith Chimzimu, Tabitha Chawinga

Angola: Maria Muecalia, Manuela Simao, Catia Alves, Matondo Matovova, Sara Luvunga, Patricia Seteco, Lacho Marta, Paulina Sambo, Alminda Lopes (c), Margarete Salvador, Ana Costa