FIFA U-20 WWC: Chombo-Sadiki shares secret behind victory over Guinea-Bissau

Malawi Under-20 Women’s National Team coach Maggie Chombo-Sadiki has credited a high-stakes halftime “pep-talk” for her side’s stunning 5-1 demolition of Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.

The Junior Scorchers secured their place in the final qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 6-2 aggregate victory, recovering from a nervous start at the Bingu National Stadium to keep their Polish dreams alive.

After a tense 1-1 draw in the first leg, Malawi found themselves in early trouble when Lamarana Bari stunned the home crowd with a goal for Guinea-Bissau in just the second minute. Although Victoria Mkwala equalized three minutes later, the hosts struggled to find their rhythm in a frantic first half.

Speaking after the match, Chombo-Sadiki revealed that her halftime intervention was centered on psychological warfare and tactical composure.

How Malawi came from a goal down to thrash Guinea-Bissau, Maggie Chombo-Sadiki explains

“We were one-nil down, so I told the girls not to be afraid,” Chombo-Sadiki said. “I challenged them, telling them that if our counterparts could score, we were capable of scoring even more. I told them to have confidence because Guinea-Bissau were rushing and playing long balls. We needed to stay calm.”

Beyond the emotional boost, the legendary former Scorchers captain admitted to shifting the game plan to exploit the visitors’ fatigue.

“I told the girls: ‘Let’s try to pass, attack more, and keep the ball upfront without rushing.’ In the first half, they were a bit intimidated by the physicality, but the second-half adjustment was about playing our own game,” she explained.

The tactical shift paid dividends. Substitute Fatima Lali netted a brilliant brace, while Mayamiko Mkandawire added the finishing touches to a dominant second-half display that saw Malawi score four unanswered goals.

A Fair Result

Guinea-Bissau coach Joao Domingos Loa NaFatcha offered no excuses for the collapse, admitting his side was punished for their profligacy.

“We faced a well-prepared team,” NaFatcha said via an interpreter. “We wasted a lot of chances in the first half. Malawi took theirs, so it was a fair result.”

Malawi now joins the continent’s elite—including Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria—in the final qualifying round scheduled for May 2026.

The Junior Scorchers face their toughest test yet against African giants Nigeria in a two-legged playoff. The aggregate winner will secure one of the coveted African tickets to the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

Final Qualifying Round Fixtures 

Nigeria vs. Malawi

Cameroon vs. Tanzania

Ghana vs. Uganda

Ivory Coast vs. Benin