COSAFA Women’s Championship: Malawi coach axes 12 players

Malawi senior women’s national team coach Lovemore Fazili has made major changes to the squad for the forthcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa.

The Scorchers’ boss has dropped 12 players from the final 24-member party while also drafting in four juniors— Leticia Chinyamula, Olivia Phikani, Sarah Mlimbika and Maureen Kenneth.

 

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The quartet has been drawn from the Malawi under-20 side that has progressed to the final qualifying round of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Who is out of Malawi’s squad?

Fazili has left out star winger Asimenye Simwaka and striker Sabina Thom, with the latter probably given time to settle at her new Moroccan club Phoenix Football Feminin Marrakech.

The other players who have not made the final cut are FCB Nyasa Big Bullets women’s team goalkeepers Thoko Mwase and Bridget Malemia, Martha Mbewe from Civil Women and Topik FC’s Jane Nyirenda.

The list of the dropped players includes defenders Justina Jumbo (Silver Strikers Ladies), Gladys Joseph (Civil Service Women), Sheila Mangani (Mighty Queens), Alinafe Majora (Ascent Academy), midfielders Jessie Josefe (Civil Service Women) and Catherine Kachala (MDF Lioness).

Notable inclusions in Scorchers’ squad

Notable inclusions in the squad are Egypt-based midfielder Vanessa Chikupila, TP Mazembe Women’s team defender Chimwemwe Madise, Tendai Sani of ZISD and Chisomo Banda of Konkola Blades Queens, both in Zambia.

The Cosafa Women’s Championship will take place in Polokwane from 18 February to 1 March.

Fazili wants to use the regional football tournament to prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals scheduled for Morocco from 17 March to 3 April.

At the COSAFA Women’s Championship, the Scorchers will compete in Group A which comprises South Africa, Angola and Lesotho.

Defending champions Zambia lead Group B comprising Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Botswana. Group C consist of Mozambique, Madagascar and Namibia.

The 11 participating teams were drawn into three groups—two comprising four members and the other three.

Full Squad for Malawi:

GOALKEEPERS

Mercy Sikelo (Kukoma Ntopwa)

Yamikani Kaonga (MDF Lioness)

Esther Maulidi (Mighty Wanderers Queens)

DEFENDERS

Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe)

Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers ladies)

Rose Alufandika (Kukoma Ntopwa)

Maggie Chavula (Ascent Soccer Academy)

Maureen Kenneth (Ascent Soccer Academy)

Doreen Dickson (MDF Lioness)

Benadetta Mkandawire (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)

Olivia Phikani (Kukoma Ntopwa)

Tionge Phiri (Silver Strikers Ladies)

MIDFIELDERS

Madina Nguluwe (Silver Strikers ladies)

Sarah Mlimbika (Kukoma Ntopwa)

Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Soccer Academy)

Lyna James (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets)

Funny Magombo (Kukoma Ntopwa)

Tendai Sani (Zisd)

FORWARDS

Debora Henry (Silver Strikers ladies)

Mary Chavinda (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)

Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Civil Service Women)

Chikondi Gondwe (Silver Strikers ladies)

Vanessa Chikupila (Palm Hills Women’s FC)

Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens)

Full COSAFA Women’s Championship Draw

Group A: South Africa, Malawi, Angola, Lesotho

Group B: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Botswana

Group C: Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia