Malawi prepares WAFCON heroines’ welcome for World Cup-bound Scorchers

Malawi is preparing a major welcome for the Scorchers after their run to the WAFCON final secured the country’s place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil. The team lost the final but will return home with a landmark achievement for Malawian women’s football.

Plans for the reception have gathered momentum as supporters celebrate a campaign that carried the Scorchers beyond expectations. Their progress to the tournament’s last match, followed by qualification for the World Cup, has made the squad a source of national pride despite missing out on the trophy.

The players had been dismissed before the tournament began, but their performances changed that view. Malawi’s campaign included victories over stronger opposition, earning the squad recognition as one of the competition’s surprise forces and establishing a new place for the team in the country’s football history.

National Women’s Football Association president Adelaide Migogo praised the players for reaching the final and expressed pride in their achievement. Her message also looked ahead to the World Cup, where Malawi will make its mark on the global stage.

Malawian author Onjezani Kenani also highlighted the obstacles the team overcame. He said the Scorchers had answered their critics through belief, bravery and persistence, and described them as a side that opponents in Brazil will need to watch.

The welcome will therefore reflect more than the result of the final. Malawi’s players are returning as World Cup qualifiers after a historic WAFCON campaign, with celebrations planned across the country for a squad that has captured widespread public support.