Malawi Women’s National Football Team, Scorchers, head coach Lovemore Fazili says the team’s win in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship gives the team an upper hand in the fight for a place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

Fazili’s side has scorched hosts South Africa 4-3 in a match which was played Wednesday afternoon at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.

Temwa Chawinga netted a hat-trick, first of the current campaign, with Leticia Chinyamula scoring the fourth one, while Banyana Banyana scored through Thubelihle Shamase, Khensani Nkuna, and Sphumelele Shamase.

Speaking after the game, Fazili praised his charges, and said the team will not underrate its remaining two group stages games.

” I am happy with the performance of every player who participated. They played according to our plan. Our focus now shifts to the two matches against eSwatini and Madagascar and we will not underrate them,” Fazili said.

Fazili also praised Temwa for leading by example in the first game of the Scorchers, saying she inspired her teammates.

“She has shown that she is indeed an extraordinary player. Temwa is very fast and focused on the pitch. She has inspired her teammates to do more,” Fazili said.

The Scorchers are top of Group A with three points one match at par with eSwatini who claimed a 2-1 win over Madagascar in another Group A match.

Chawinga was at the end of the match voted player of the match.

The Scorchers will play against eSwatini at the same venue on Saturday before meeting Madagascar on Tuesday next week in their last Group A match.