Malawi National Women's Football Team Makes History by Winning 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship
The head coach of the Malawi national women's football team, Lovemore Fazili, was elated with the victory.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - The Malawi national women's football team, affectionately known as the "Scorchers," achieved a historic milestone by clinching the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship, writes Happy Valirani.
This remarkable victory came after a closely contested match against defending champions Zambia, which concluded with a score of 2-1 in favour of Malawi.
The thrilling final was held at Lucas Moripe Stadium in South Africa on Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Asimenye Simwaka made a significant impact, breaking the deadlock with a goal in the 34th minute, granting Malawi a 1-0 lead as they headed into halftime.
However, Zambia's women's team, the defending champions, displayed tremendous resilience in the second half, seeking an equaliser.
Their efforts paid off in the 84th minute when Agnes Phiri netted an equalizing goal, bringing the score to 1-1.
It was not until the 90th minute, during injury time, that Sabina Thom delivered a match-winning goal, elevating Malawi to a 2-1 lead.
Her goal sparked immense hope and jubilation among her teammates and the passionate Malawian supporters who had rallied behind the team.
This final goal secured the Scorchers' victory and their reign as the 2023 Women's Championship champions.
The Malawian team's journey to victory was remarkable, as they progressed to the finals without suffering a single loss in their group stage matches.
They commenced the tournament on October 4 with an exhilarating 4-3 victory over the host nation, South Africa.
This early success set the tone for their campaign, as they went on to overwhelm Eswatini with an 8-0 victory and concluded the group stages with a dominant 3-1 win over Madagascar.
In the semifinals, Malawi overcame Mozambique with a 2-1 win, securing their spot in the finals. They faced Zambia, who had triumphed over Botswana with a 1-0 victory.
This historical win marks a significant milestone in Malawi's women's football history and underscores the team's enduring determination and commitment.
The head coach of the Malawi national women's football team, Lovemore Fazili, was elated with the victory.
He commended his players for their exceptional performance throughout the tournament, from the initial matches to the final.
"I am overjoyed that we have finally secured the cup. The journey was not easy, considering where we started. We have been participating in this tournament in South Africa for many years, and today, we are thrilled to bring the cup back home. This victory is a gift to the people of Malawi," Fazili stated.