Sports analyst Henry Gome says the Malawi National Women’s Football Team’s 5-0 defeat to the Australia women’s national football team in the 2026 FIFA Series has exposed weaknesses in both defence and attack.
He said the result should serve as a wake-up call for the Scorchers technical panel to address the shortcomings ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, scheduled from 26 July to 16 August.
“The other problems were with goals due to the absence of Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga. Here is a team that is highly ranked and we needed players that would actually match that particular level. These are among the best strikers in the world; if we had them in the team, we would have found a goal,” Gome said.
However, Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili said the team has taken valuable lessons from the defeat and will work on improving all departments ahead of future assignments.
“Players have learnt a lot. We expected the game to be tough. This is part of the game. We learn through mistakes. We were playing a good team,” Fazili said.
He also reflected on areas requiring improvement.
“The goalkeeper wasn’t bad, but in some situations she could have done better to avoid the goals,” Fazili added.
Australia took an early lead in the fifth minute through Emily van Egmond, who capitalised on a lapse in Malawi’s defence.
The Scorchers came close to scoring just before halftime when Rose Kabzere’s free-kick was saved, with Vanessa Chikupila’s rebound effort subsequently blocked.
Sam Kerr doubled Australia’s lead in the 41st minute to send the match into the break at 2-0.
The visitors extended their advantage through Alex Chidiac in the 60th minute and Holly McNamara in the 86th, before Leticia Lee McKenna sealed the emphatic win with a stoppage-time goal.
Australia coach Joe Montemurro said the match provided valuable lessons for his side.
“Very important to play the game against a very unpredictable side. We are here to simulate difficult and hostile crowds. The more the challenge. The more we learn,” Montemurro said.
The result means Malawi will face India women’s national football team, who lost 2-0 to Kenya women’s national football team, on 15 April at Nyayo National Stadium in the third-place play-off.
Meanwhile, Australia will face hosts, Kenya women’s national football team, in the final on the same day.
Similar tournaments are also being staged in Brazil, Thailand and Ivory Coast.
