Silver Strikers Ladies secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Mozambique's Costa do Sol in their opening CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers match on Friday in Gaborone, Botswana. According to the Maravi Post, Costa do Sol scored just 18 seconds into the match, but defender Ireen Khumalo equalised with a 68th-minute free-kick and was named Player of the Match. Substitute Grace Kakagula then netted a stoppage-time winner against the 10-woman Mozambican side. Nyasa Times reports that the win marks a successful start to the Malawian champions' maiden regional campaign under head coach Patricio Kulemeka.
Meanwhile, preparations for the Malawi Scorchers' debut at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup are taking centre stage following their return from the WAFCON tournament. Speaking at a state luncheon hosted by First Lady Gertrude Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace, head coach Lovemore Fazili urged the Football Association of Malawi to arrange at least 10 friendly matches against highly-ranked non-African national teams to ensure the squad is fully prepared, according to Nyasa Times. The players were also rewarded with K5 million each for their recent WAFCON achievements.
In a separate address at a fundraising breakfast in Lilongwe, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata proposed a different preparation strategy. Local sports platforms Bola Mpira and Zathu Vibe report that the minister suggested the women's team could test their readiness by playing local domestic men's giants FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers in exhibition matches before heading to South America.
Update: The Football Association of Malawi has officially confirmed the date for the upcoming Airtel Top 8 final. According to local sports outlet 442 Malawi, the championship clash between Mighty Wanderers and Ekhaya FC is scheduled for Saturday, August 29.