2022AWCONQs: Wasteful Copper Queens held in Malawi

By Moses Pedro Mwanza | October 20, 2021

Full-Time Scores,

Malawi WNT 1-1 Zambia WNT (Sabinah Thomu 66′ | Grace Chanda 20′)

The Zambia Women’s national team and the Scorchers of Malawi shared spoils on Wednesday after playing to a 1-1draw in the first round first leg of the Morocco 2020 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) Qualifier match played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

The Copper Queens started like a house on fire and in the opening 5 minutes, they were awarded a penalty which Lusaka Dynamos Ladies Midfielder Elizabeth Mupeso failed to convert as her effort went wide.

A few minutes later, Zambia Captain Grace ‘Dangote’ Chanda scored a beautiful goal outside the box to catch Malawi Goalkeeper Ruth Mhango off guard to make it 1-0 to the Copper Queens who had a myriad of chances in the first half and Chanda’s goal was the difference going at the break.

After resumption, Malawi came back more organized and they played a pressing game that put Zambia under pressure and Malawi’s hard work finally paid off after the hour mark as Sabinah Thomu poked in a header from close range with Ngambo Petronella Musole beaten in goal for Zambia to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute.

Spanish-bound Racheal Kundananji had an opportunity to put Zambia back in the lead in the late moments of the game but Malawian goalkeeper Ruth Mhango was equal to the task with a breathtaking save after denying Kundananji with another thunderbolt strike.

After all, was done and dusted, The Copper Queens and The Scorchers shared spoils ahead of the return match next week on Tuesday 26th October 2021 at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium.

The overall aggregate winner between Zambia and Malawi will face either Namibia or Tanzania in the next round.

Namibia defeated Tanzania 2-1 away in Dar ar Salaam on the same day which is a Morale Booster for the Brave Gladiators going into the reverse fixture next week in Windhoek.