Chinzimu wins UEFA Women’s Europa Cup with BK Häcken

Malawi women’s national team striker Faith Chinzimu has written her own piece of UEFA history with Swedish side BK Häcken. The 19-year-old forward became the first Malawian footballer ever to win the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup on Friday.

 

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The Scorchers’ attacker was an unused substitute for Häcken as they edged fellow Swedish side Hammarby 3-2 on the day and 4-2 on aggregate at Gothenburg’s Hisingen Arena.

Chinzimu watches BK Häcken exploits from bench

Swedish striker Felicia Schröder scored a hat-trick to earn Häcken the inaugural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup.

 

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Häcken are the first Swedish club to win a UEFA competition since Umeå in the 2002/03 and 2003/04 UEFA Women’s Cup (Häcken’s neighbours IFK Göteborg won the men’s UEFA Cup in 1982 and 1987).

It was also the first time that the continental cup final featured both sides from Sweden since Tyresö reached the 2014 UEFA Women’s Champions League showpiece.

The newly crowned champions went into Friday’s match carrying a 1-0 lead from the final first leg played last Sunday. Chinzimu was again on the substitutes’ bench in the first leg.

Chinzimu’s rise to stardom

The 19-year-old signed for the Swedish side last year from Ascent Soccer FC of Lilongwe.

Earlier this April, she became the first Malawian to reach the continental final after her Sweden-based club overcame Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 on aggregate in the semifinal.