Chawinga (centre): Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi.
France-based star Tabitha Chawinga has declared herself available for the Malawi senior women’s national football team’s two friendlies against Zambia next week.
Speaking exclusively to Pan-Africa Football, the forward said his club, Lyon FC, has agreed to release her for the friendlies on February 20 and 23, 2025 in Lusaka.
“The two games fall on FIFA’s window of international events so I will be available. I am waiting for my manager to arrange my travel arrangements with the Football Association of Malawi,” she told Pan-Africa Football.
The 28-year-old described the strength-testing matches as crucial to the Scorchers’ performance ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.
“Playing Zambia would help as they are one of the biggest teams in WAFCON. These games are important for new players to gel with the experienced ones,” the Rumphi-born star explained.
Chawinga has earned the call-up alongside her America-based sister Temwa.
The Scorchers were initially scheduled to play against Congo in the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers, but Congo withdrew from the qualifiers due to ill preparations.
Nonetheless, Malawi have continued training with home-based players ahead of the back-to-back warm-ups which coach Lovemore Fazili has described as timely to solve the team’s shortfalls.
He cited goalkeeping and defence as the weakest link for the 2023 COSAFA champions hence the need to rectify them. Malawi will face either Zimbabwe or Angola in October in the final qualifying matches with the overall winner booking the WAFCON ticket.
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