Ekhaya Women’s FC fell 1–0 to Ntopwa Queens in a fiercely contested Independence Day friendly held Sunday lunchtime at Kamuzu Stadium.
The match, held as part of Malawi’s 61st Independence Day celebrations, was tightly contested with both teams showing great determination early in the tie.
Mary Chindeya made the difference, striking the lone goal midway through the second half to win it for the hosts.
What Happened
Full of energy, The Cowgirls made a bright start to the match, holding possession and creating a few chances in the opening 20 minutes.
However, their attacking rhythm dropped as the match progressed, with forward central striker Jenin Mwale often isolated upfront.
Despite her work rate and movement, Mwale had no clear scoring opportunities, as Ekhaya failed to break through Ntopwa’s solid defensive line until halftime.
Putting their experience on display, Ntopwa Queens returned from the interval a completely improved side. Just past the hour mark, in the 64th minute, they were one nil up.
A defensive lapse from Ekhaya allowed a quick lofted ball to beat the backline. Escaping the offside trap, Ntopwa’s striker Mary Chindeya calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper Rosette Mwadjuma to put the hosts in front.
Ekhaya pushed for an equalizer in the final 20 minutes, bringing on fresh legs, but failed to create real chances.
What coach Griffin Spenser said
“Jenin worked hard today, but she was too alone up front. We need to work on our transitions and provide more support from midfield. It’s a learning moment for the team,”
Looking ahead
While the result was disappointing for The Cowgirls, the friendly match offered valuable lessons ahead of the new season. The team will now return to training with a focus on their league opener against Mighty Wanderers Queens.
