Malawi Women’s Cosafa squad named

Malawi National Women’s Team head coach Lovemore Fazili has named a 32-member provisional squad to begin camp on Sunday ahead of the COSAFA Women’s Championship scheduled to take place in South Africa from February 18 to march 1.

The tournament will also serve as a key build up competition for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, which will be staged from March 17 to April 3.

Fazili has included Deborah Henry, the top goalscorer from the NBM Women’s Premiership, alongside four foreign based players who will be available for selection as part of the tournament falls within the FIFA international window.

Egypt based midfielder Vanessa Cikupila leads the foreign based contingent, which also includes defender Chimwemwe Madise of TP Mazembe, Tendai Sani of ZISD, and Chisomo Banda from Konkola Blades Queens.

The COSAFA Women’s Championship is expected to provide valuable competitive match exposure for the Scorchers as they fine tune preparations for their historic participation at the continental finals.

The full list of the Scorchers provisional squad is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS

Mercy Sikelo (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Thoko Mwase (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Yamikani Kaonga (MDF Lioness)
Martha Mbewe (Civil Service Women)
Jane Nyirenda (Topik)
Bridget Malemia (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Esther Maulidi (Mighty Wanderers Queens)

DEFENDERS

Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe)
Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers ladies)
Rose Alufandika (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Maggie Chavula (Ascent Soccer Academy)
Doreen Dickson (MDF Lioness)
Benadetta Mkandawire (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Justina Jumbo (Silver Strikers ladies)
Gladys Joseph (Civil Service Women)
Shilla Mangani (Mighty Wanderers Queens)
Tionge Phiri (Silver Strikers ladies)
Alinafe Majora (Ascent Soccer Academy)
MIDFIELDERS
Madina Nguluwe (Silver Strikers ladies)
Jessie Yosefe (Civil Service Women)
Asimenye Simwaka (Free Agent / MDF Lioness)
Lyna James (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets)
Funny Magombo (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Catherine Kachala (MDF Lioness)

FORWARDS
Debora Henry (Silver Strikers ladies)
Mary Chavinda (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Civil Service Women)
Chikondi Gondwe (Silver Strikers ladies)
Sabina Thom (Phoenix Football Feminin Marrakech)
Vanessa Chikupila (Palm Hills Women’s FC)
Tendai Sani (Zisd)
Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens)