Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili believes his team can compete against Nigeria in their opening Group C match at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The debutants face the defending champions in Rabat on Tuesday night in what will be the first meeting between the two nations at this level.
Despite being heavy underdogs against the 10-time champions, Fazili refused to accept a passive role. "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," he told a press conference on Monday.
He stressed that his players understand the challenge ahead. "We are going there to fight, and I am sure the players are aware of that," Fazili added.
The Group C encounter in Rabat will see Malawi make their debut at Africa's premier women's football tournament. Zambia's Copper Queens and Egypt's Cleopatras will contest the other match in the group stage.
