To demonstrate that their victory in the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Champions was no fluke, Malawi National Women’s Football coach Lovemore Fazili has summoned all his star players in preparation for this year’s tournament.

The group stage draw for the upcoming edition took place last week, placing Malawi in Group B alongside Botswana, Madagascar, and Mauritius.

Fazili, who led the Malawian Scorchers to their historic Cosafa Cup victory last year by defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final, expressed his hopes of defending the title this year.

“We will do better according to the teams we are facing; we have to work hard and be watchful. Our target is winning the cup; it will give us hope to Malawians that last year it was not a fluke. Our plans are not for this tournament but for competitions that we will have next year,” said Fazili.

Chawinga sisters headline squad

Fazili has summoned all professional players as they prepare to defend their title this year.

Among those called up are Temwa Chawinga, who recently set the record for the most goals scored in a single season of the National Women’s Soccer League with her 19th goal for Kansas City Current FC against Bay FC, and her elder sister, Tabitha Chawinga, who currently plays for Lyon in France after successful stints with Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Other notable inclusions are forward Vannesa Chipikula from Zambia’s Green Buffaloes, Mary Chavinda from Rayon in Rwanda, Vitumbiko Mkandawire of Zambia Zisd, Sabina Thom from TP Mazembe in the DRC, Choma Okafo from the University of Connecticut in the USA, Chimwemwe Madise of TP Mazembe, Ireen Khumalo from Green Buffaloes in Zambia, and Rose Kabzere from Montpellier in France.

The 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship will take place in Gqeberha, South Africa, from October 22 to November 2.

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