Hundreds of football fans thronged Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Friday to watch the Scorchers defeat Zimbabwe 2-0 in a 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifying match. The match generated a record K49.4 million in gate revenue, with tickets priced at K4 000 advance and K5 000 on match day. This significant turnout and revenue represent a major milestone for women's football in Malawi.
The Scorchers' victory marked their first appearance before their home supporters since their impressive campaign at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco. There, they finished as runners-up and secured qualification for the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) communications officer Collins Nsunza attributed the success to FAM's investment in and development of women's football.
FAM's efforts to develop women's football have yielded positive results, with the Scorchers' brand growing significantly under the transformation agenda. Nsunza stated that the association is delighted with the achievement, citing the growth of the Scorchers' brand and its potential to attract more supporters and generate greater revenue in the future. The Scorchers' matches were previously free of charge, but FAM has now moved from zero gate revenue to K49 million.
The Scorchers' success comes at a time when Malawi's men's national teams have endured a disappointing run of results. The Flames lost 3-1 away to Angola in an Afcon qualifier, while the Under-23 national team was knocked out of the Under-23 Afcon qualifiers. In contrast, the Scorchers have continued to make strides, with their growing profile reflected in their latest Fifa Women's World Rankings.
Just hours before kick-off, Malawi emerged as the biggest movers in the latest Coca-Cola-Fifa Women's World Rankings, climbing 37 places from 153rd to 116th. Nsunza attributed the rise to FAM's investment in women's football, which has provided the Scorchers with more opportunities to play international friendly matches and compete at the highest level.
However, Nsunza stated that the association is not resting on its achievements, with the ambition to push Malawi into the top 100 of the global rankings. Football analyst George Chiusiwa praised the Scorchers' performance, citing their satisfactory and excellent showings at the Wafcon in Morocco as a reason for the massive crowds at Bingu National Stadium.
Chiusiwa noted that the Flames' disappointing performances have made the Scorchers a more desirable football brand in the eyes of spectators. He believes that once the Flames' performances improve, people will once again fill up the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe to watch the team. The Scorchers' record-breaking win has demonstrated the significant progress made by women's football in Malawi.
Key points
- The Scorchers' victory over Zimbabwe generated a record K49.4 million in gate revenue.
- The team's success is attributed to FAM's investment in and development of women's football.
- Malawi has climbed 37 places in the Fifa Women's World Rankings, from 153rd to 116th.
