Fazili targets Cosafa final, brings in four pros

(Photo via FAM media)

Malawi Women’s national team coach Lovemore Fazili says his target is to reach the COSAFA final and possibly win the tournament to boost his players’ morale ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals in Morocco.

Fazili was speaking while announcing his 32-member squad, which will enter camp on February 4, 2026, in preparation for the COSAFA Women’s Championship scheduled to kick off on February 18 in Polokwane, South Africa.

The squad includes four foreign-based professional players, several experienced campaigners, and a number of new faces who impressed in the local league.

The four foreign-based players are defender Chimwemwe Madise of TP Mazembe, Egypt-based attacker Vanessa Chikupila, and Zambia-based strikers Tendai Sani and Chisomo Banda.

“These are the players who are available for selection as the tournament falls within the FIFA international window,” Fazili said.

Speaking about his targets, Fazili said he is aiming to reach the COSAFA final and possibly lift the trophy.

“We are going to compete and we aim to reach the COSAFA final, hoping to win the trophy. Another objective is to give players enough game time as we prepare for WAFCON,” he said.

Asked whether it would be an advantage that Zambia and South Africa are expected to field second-string sides due to their focus on WAFCON, Fazili said he is not considering that factor.

“You never know. They may say they are using team B, only to realise later that it is not the case or that they have included experienced players. Our role is simply to prepare well for the tournament,” he said.