Malawi’s Under-17 Women’s National Team has exited the FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a 2-1 defeat to Burundi in the second leg at Stade Intwari in Bujumbura, sealing a 4-2 aggregate loss.
The Young Scorchers, who went into the match needing a win after losing 2-1 at home, conceded twice early in the first half. Kerene Nshizahabona opened the scoring in the 8th minute, before Ella Louange Kezimana doubled the hosts’ lead four minutes later.
Malawi responded in the second half, with Tamandani Chilimba pulling one back in the 58th minute, but it was not enough to overturn the deficit. Head coach Chisomo Nkhoma attributed the loss to the early goals conceded.
“We conceded early goals in the first 15 minutes, and that put the girls under immense pressure. It was difficult to recover from that start,” she said.
Despite the disappointment, Nkhoma praised her players for their effort and resilience. “The players fought hard, but the pressure and early mistakes cost us. This is part of their growth, and we will continue to build on these lessons,” she added.
Nkhoma also stressed the importance of continued investment in women’s football to improve future performances on the international stage.
