Wa Ganyu
Malawi Women’s National Football Team coach Lovemore Fazili has taken a gamble by including injured forward Temwa Chawinga in his 35-member provisional squad for the FIFA Series set to be played in Kenya from 11th to 15th April.
The US based star player who plays for Kansas City last featured for The Scorchers in February 2025 against Zambia in a friendly match.
She was carried off the field in the first half of the Current’s match against the Houston Dash in October last year and has not played to date.
But Fazili has named Temwa together with her sister Tabitha and eight other foreign based players in his strong squad.
“The status is 50-50, she might be with us or not but it depends on whatever we have been discussing and what we are gathering as regards her recovery progress. So, she [Temwa] is on list because of what we are getting from the other side [Kansas City]”, said Fazili.
Malawi will face Australia in their first game on 11th April with the winner advancing to the final on 15th April to play the winner of the other semi-final between the hosts Kenya and India. The losers will face off in a third place play off.
Fazili said the international series are crucial in preparing his charges for their maiden appearance at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July.
“These games are very important to us because we are going to meet big teams like Australia. As Malawi, we are going there as underdogs but we hope to learn a lot of things. Even Australia will learn one or two things from Malawi.
“We are preparing for Wafcon and these games are coming at the right time whereby whatever we are going to learn in Kenya will help us improve ahead of the continental tournament,” stressed Fazili.
The Scorchers squad of local players begin camp on 1 April 2026 at Mpira Village in Blantyre.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
Mercy Sikelo (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Thoko Mwase (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Yamikani Kaonga (MDF Lioness)
Esther Maulidi (Mighty Wanderers Queens)
Defenders
Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe)
Rose Alufandika (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Maureen Kenneth (Ascent Soccer Academy)
Maggie Chavula (Ascent Soccer Academy)
Doreen Dickson (MDF Lioness)
Bernadetta Mkandawire (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Taonga Phiri (Silver Strikers Ladies)
Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers Ladies)
Olivia Phikani (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Gladys Joseph (Civil Service Women)
Shilla Mangani (Mighty Wanderers Queens)
Midfielders
Madyina Ngulube (Silver Strikers Ladies)
Lyna James (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Asimenye Simwaka (MDF Lioness)
Jessie Yosefe (Civil Service Women)
Letticia Chinyamula (Ascent Soccer Academy)
Rose Kabzere (Montpellier)
Faith Chimzimu (BK Haken FC)
Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Civil Service Women)
Chikondi Gondwe (Silver Strikers Ladies)
Sarah Mlimbika (Kukoma Mtopwa Queens)
Tendai Sani (ZISD)
Vanessa Chikupila (Palm Hills Sports Club)
Funny Magombo (Kukoma Ntopwa)
Forwards
Tabitha Chawinga (Olympique Lyon)
Mary Chavinda (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women)
Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades)
Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City)
Fatima Lali (Ascent Soccer Academy)
Deborah Henry (Silver Strikers Ladies)
Sabina Thom (Phoenix Feminin)
