Kenya snub WAFCON warm up tournament in Malawi

Kenya have chickened out of a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) warm up invitational tournament scheduled for Malawi later in November.

Instead, the Football Kenya Federation has announced the Harambee Starlets will travel to Algeria for back-to-back strength-building matches on Sunday and Thursday.

The absence of the Kenyans has since reduced the competition into a three-nation event. Now Malawi the hosts will face neighbours Zambia and Zimbabwe from November 28 to 2 December 2025 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

A statement from the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirms that the competition will now involve only three teams following the absence of the East African opposition.

“Initially, Kenya had also been invited, but the team opted for alternative fixtures, reducing the tournament to three nations,” reads the statement.

Who will face who?

FAM has since released fixtures indicating that the Scorchers will open the floor with a meeting against Zimbabwe on Friday, 28 November, before taking on Zambia on Sunday, 30 November.

The Copper Queens and Zimbabwe will meet in the final on Tuesday, 2 December when ultimately a team with the highest tally of points will be crowned champions.

The Scorchers and the Copper Queens are warming up for the 2026 WAFCON scheduled for Morocco in March.

Meanwhile, Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili will announce his squad for the tournament on Friday. France-based star Tabitha Chawinga is expected to participate in the competition.

Zimbabwe coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda released a provisional squad for the trip to Lilongwe with only home-based players considered.

Earlier reports had suggested that South Africa were also earmarked for participation but there was no confirmation.

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