FIFA Series: ‘Malawi v Australia was easy despite 5-0 loss’ – Fazili

Malawi women’s national team coach Lovemore Fazili says the game against Australia ‘was not tough’ despite suffering a 0-5 loss at the FIFA Series in Kenya on Saturday.

Leicester City’s Emily van Egmond and captain Sam Kerr of Chelsea scored for the Matildas in the first half. Alex Chidiac (FC Como), Melbourne City’s Holly Mcnamara and Leticia McKenna’s second half strikes sealed the final berth at Nyayo Stadium.

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— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) April 11, 2026

Australia will meet Kenya in the final.

Why Fazili thinks game against Australia was easy

Despite the heavy loss, Fazili said his side was punished for making simple avoidable mistakes.

“Lessons learnt,” said the coach. “The game was not really very tough, I have to be honest, but when you play against an experienced team and when you sink, the other team takes advantage and capitalises on your mistakes.”

The Scorchers mentor noted that goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and the defence made mistakes while the frontline was ineffective.

“We made simple mistakes and we conceded goals which we could have avoided. The goalkeeper wasn’t very bad, but in other situations, we missed something. We could have done better. The midfield had problems.

Upfront, we lacked experience. We have accepted the defeat, but we have learnt a lot from this game.”

What next now for Malawi at FIFA Series?

In the absence of Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, Fazili fielded Vanessa Chipikula and Rose Alufandika in attack, Sikelo kept his place between the sticks while Leticia Chinyamula led the midfield.

On the other hand, Australia coach Joe Montemurro paraded a star-studded starting XI that included Sam Kerr from Chelsea and the most capped Emily van Egmond (178 caps).

Malawi will now meet India in a third-place play-off after the Asians lost 2-0 to Kenya in another semifinal played at the same Nairobi venue later on Saturday.