Scorchers goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo denies quitting Malawi

Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo has denied leaving the national team after a resignation letter carrying Football Association of Malawi (FAM) branding circulated online. She described the document as fake news and said it was created to spread confusion.

The letter claimed Sikelo had decided to end her Scorchers career after receiving online criticism for her performance in the WAFCON final, which Malawi lost to Cameroon. The claim appeared soon after Malawi’s landmark run to the tournament final.

Sikelo responded through her personal Facebook page, rejecting the announcement and making clear that she had not quit the national side. Her denial directly contradicted the message presented as an official communication from the football association.

The fabricated document used FAM-headed paper, giving it the appearance of a genuine announcement before its contents were challenged. That presentation helped the resignation claim circulate widely online and caused confusion over the goalkeeper’s international future.

Sikelo is regarded as one of the Scorchers’ important players, and the suggestion that she had walked away prompted dismay among supporters following the team’s historic campaign. Her clarification removes the immediate uncertainty over whether she remains available for Malawi.

The episode has also highlighted the damage that can be caused by false statements made to look like official football communications. The identity of whoever produced the letter, and the reason Sikelo was targeted after the final, remain unresolved in the supplied information.