Malawi coach explains Scorchers’ WAFCON 2026 run after 3-0 loss

Malawi lost 3-0 to Cameroon in Sunday’s WAFCON 2026 final, but coach Lovemore Fazili said the Scorchers’ historic runners-up finish was built on commitment, unity and strong support around the team. The result came after Malawi had beaten 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening Group C match during their first appearance at the continental championship.

Fazili said the players combined determination with a strong desire to succeed, while the mixture of young and experienced members gave the squad balance. He also credited the relationship between the coaching staff and the players, saying constructive communication helped the team maintain its focus throughout the campaign.

The coach pointed to the Malawi Football Association’s welfare arrangements as another factor behind the run. He said the squad’s officials and players remained closely connected, creating an environment in which the team could respond positively to correction and continue working together.

Malawi topped Group C after their opening victory over Nigeria and advanced to the knockout stage. Reaching the semi-finals secured qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the victory over Nigeria and the subsequent run to the final established the Scorchers as one of the competition’s leading stories.

The semi-final achievement also made the women’s team only the second national side from Malawi to qualify for a FIFA tournament. The first was the country’s men’s under-17 team, which appeared at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2009.

Fazili said he was proud of the players and regarded the final appearance as a major achievement, particularly because it came in Malawi’s first WAFCON campaign. The Scorchers’ journey ended at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium against Cameroon, but their qualification for the World Cup and runners-up finish marked a significant step for Malawi women’s football.