Malawi caretaker coach McNebert Kazuwa has admitted that Zambia’s 1-0 win over Uganda on Tuesday helped the Scorchers to clinch the Cosafa Women’s Championship semifinal berth.

“We came here to compete so we are happy that we have reached the semifinals. The Zambians have fought for us by beating Uganda 1-0. We really wanted to reach the semifinals and here we are. We are ready for any team,” Kazuwa told Malawi FA media.

He said this after the Scorchers qualified for the semifinals as the overall second-best team across the three four-member groups, having made it from Group A courtesy of a superior goal-difference of +2.

Malawi shrugged off Zimbabwe who also finished on six points in Group B with a goal-difference of +1. Uganda settled for four points in Group C.

Malawi date fellow Group A members South Africa in the semifinals after the Organising Committee decided against reviewing the competition’s fixture in the event that the semifinals paired two teams from the same group.

Malawi met Banyana Banyana earlier in Group A and lost 2-1 before bouncing back to beat Mozambique and Angola.

The Scorchers have never defeated Banyana Banyana in the competition’s history.

On the other hand, Zambia beat Uganda via Grace Chanda’s goal in the decisive match to book a semifinal date with Group B winners Tanzania on Thursday.