Malawi boss vows to “fight” as debutants prepare to face holders Nigeria at WAFCON 2026

Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili says his team are heading into their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations opener against holders Nigeria “to fight”, as the Scorchers prepare for their first-ever match at the finals.

The Group C fixture, which will be played at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday night, pits tournament debutants Malawi against the Super Falcons, 10-time African champions and one of the favourites for the title.

Malawi are widely viewed as underdogs, but Fazili insisted his players are not intimidated by Nigeria’s record and are determined to make a strong start to their WAFCON campaign.

“I think what I can say is that we are going there to fight because we cannot go to the battlefield aiming to be killed. We are going there to fight, and I am sure the players are aware of that,” he told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

Underdogs targeting upset against champions

Nigeria arrive in Morocco as defending champions and the most successful side in the competition’s history, while Malawi are featuring at the continental showpiece for the first time.

Fazili acknowledged the scale of the task but believes WAFCON has the potential to produce surprises, pointing to past occasions when less-fancied nations have upset established powers.

“Nigeria are the champions, but sometimes history in football can change. We have seen before small teams doing wonders, so we are going there to fight and get something positive out of the game after 90 minutes,” he said.

The Malawian coach stressed that his side’s mindset will be crucial, arguing that his players must approach the contest with belief if they are to challenge a team of Nigeria’s stature.

Fazili backs team’s growing experience

Questions have been raised about Malawi’s lack of experience at major tournaments, but Fazili dismissed those concerns, highlighting the team’s busy schedule over the last two years.

He explained that the Scorchers have deliberately sought out strong opposition in order to prepare for matches like the one they face in Rabat.

“So far so good. Before and after we qualified for WAFCON, we played plenty of international friendly matches. We have played Australia, South Africa and India,” Fazili added.

According to the coach, these fixtures have helped his squad adapt to higher levels of competition and intensity, which he believes will stand them in good stead against the Super Falcons.

‘We fought for it’ – and will do so again

Malawi’s qualification for WAFCON 2026 was hard earned, and Fazili said that journey has instilled resilience in his players ahead of their meeting with the champions.

“When we qualified, it was not an easy task. We fought for it, and definitely we are going to do the same when we play Nigeria,” he said.

The Scorchers will be aiming to take something from their opening game to boost their prospects of progressing from Group C in their first appearance at the tournament, while Nigeria will be expected to underline their status as favourites in Rabat.