Update: The Malawi Women's National Football Team, the Scorchers, are finalizing preparations for their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final clash against Ghana. The match is scheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. A victory over the Black Queens would secure the Scorchers a spot in the semi-finals and guarantee them a direct ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Ahead of the fixture, Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga backed her squad to overcome their West African opponents. According to Africa Top Sports, the forward acknowledged Ghana's talent but remained optimistic, stating she hopes Malawi will be the team celebrating by the end of the match. On the opposing side, Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren praised the Scorchers during a pre-game press conference. Citi Sports reports that Björkegren described Malawi as a hardworking group and admitted the quarter-final would be a tough challenge for his team.
The Scorchers secured their place in the knockout stage by finishing at the top of Group C. The team advanced as group winners on tiebreakers despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Zambia in their final group stage match earlier in the week, according to the Football Association of Malawi.