The Malawi Under-20 Women’s National Football Team is expected to leave Thursday for Cameroon for the second leg of the 2026 Fifa Under-20 World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).
Initially, the return leg match was expected to be played at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe after CAR asked about the possibility of playing in Malawi as their home ground.
They have since opted for Cameroon.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed the development.
“They just enquired about the possibility of playing here [in Malawi]. They opted for Cameroon,” Zakazaka said.
The junior Scorchers defeated their counterparts 3-1 at BNS on Sunday, when they scored through a brace from Fatima Lali and a goal from Olivia Phikani in the first half.
CAR scored through Slyviane Passibi Sate.
The victory came at a cost as they finished the match with 10 players after their goalkeeper Emily Nkhwazi was shown a red card inside the first half.
They held on and defended the lead.
Maggie Chombo- Sadik
Junior Scorchers coach Maggie Chombo- Sadik said her charges were geared for the return match.
“We are almost through with our preparations for the second leg. We know we will face them in Cameroon and we have a plan to progress,” she said.
In the absence of Nkhwazi, Chombo-Sadik said competition to man the goalposts would be between Ireen Sibande and Fortune Bwitubwitu.
Coincidentally, Sibande replaced Nkhwazi following the sending off.
The overall winner between Malawi and CAR would face either South Sudan or Djibouti in the second round.
The second-round matches will be played in September this year.
Four teams will represent Africa at next year’s Fifa Under-20 Girls World Cup finals to be staged in Poland.
Malawi has never qualified for the World Cup finals.
