There will not be a friendly encounter between Malawi and Zambia, according to Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili, ahead of two friendlies in Lusaka, Zambia, next week.

Zambia will host Malawi on FIFA international friendlies dates (22 and 25 February) at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

“Friendly on the paper, but on the pitch, there is no friendly [match] between us and Zambia,” said Fazili

This week, Malawi and seven professional players, including Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, will travel to Zambia via Chileka International Airport in Blanty

Coach Fazili who guided the Scorchers to 2023 Cosafa Cup victory said the team is ready to face Zambia.

“We are ready for Zambia. Zambia is a good side and I am happy to face them. My focus is to work on these local players first because professional players will not give us tough times,” he said.

“As you remember we were preparing to take on Congo [in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers], so we will take the same mind-set we had when facing Zambia,” he added.    

Mercy Sikero, captain of the local team, says they are excited to play Zambia, which should be a difficult match.

“We are all ready for the match. I should thank [Football Association of Malawi] for organizing this match,” she said. 

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