South Africa defeated Malawi at Peter Mokaba Stadium in the opening 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship match, continuing their dominance over the Scorchers in the regional tournament.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute through captain Sibulele Holweni, who chested the ball down before sending a precise left-footed shot into the left corner. Later, Bonolo Mokoma sealed the victory by tapping in an easy cross from the right, making it impossible for Malawi to recover.
Despite tactical changes by coach Lovemore Fazili, Malawi struggled to create opportunities. They managed only one shot on target, two scoring chances, and just one corner kick, while South Africa dominated possession 61%-39%.
Much as they looked strong on paper based on previous meetings, Malawi found it difficult to dominate the centre and offensive half. The first half was particularly challenging, with the Scorchers mostly confined to defending, although they blocked four South Africa attempts.
In the second half, South Africa increased pressure and quickly created chances within the first five minutes. Fazili responded by bringing on more attacking players, but the hosts remained in control.
Reflecting on the defeat, Fazili admitted, “The game was bad, especially the second half. It wasn’t our day. We had some simple mistakes and we let South Africa score.”
Malawi were unable to replicate their 2023 heroics when they famously beat South Africa 4-3 in the same tournament.
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