Malawi women's team honored as South Africa reaches WAFCON quarter‑finals

Malawi’s national women’s football team, the Scorchers, received a standing ovation in Parliament after a historic run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Speaker Sameer Suleman praised the team for beating ten‑time champions Nigeria 3‑2 and later defeating Egypt, and pledged continued government and corporate support ahead of their final group match against Zambia.

In the same tournament, South Africa’s women’s side, Banyana Banyana, advanced to the quarter‑finals when striker Thembi Kgatlana scored a decisive 21st‑minute goal in a 1‑0 win over Burkina Faso in Casablanca. The victory set up a quarter‑final clash with host nation Morocco and secured South Africa’s chance to qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.