The Bullets Women defender played 76 minutes as the Scorchers completed a commanding 9-0 aggregate victory over Zimbabwe following a 7-0 win in Harare.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women defender Bernadetta Mkandawire featured as Malawi secured their place in the next round of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Tuesday afternoon.
The Scorchers arrived in Zimbabwe holding a 2-0 advantage from Friday’s first leg at Bingu National Stadium and produced another convincing performance to complete a 9-0 aggregate triumph.
Mkandawire retained her place in Lovemore Fazili’s starting eleven, featuring for 76 minutes before being replaced by Maggie Chavula as Malawi recorded a second successive clean sheet against the Mighty Warriors.
Temwa Chawinga scored a hat-trick, with Tabitha Chawinga, Chisomo Banda, Asimenye Simwaka and Sarah Mulimbika also on target in a dominant display that secured Malawi’s passage to the next qualifying round.
The visitors wasted little time asserting themselves, breaking the deadlock in the tenth minute when Temwa converted following good work from her sister Tabitha.
Zimbabwe briefly threatened a response and had an effort ruled out in the 21st minute, but Malawi remained in control and doubled their advantage eight minutes later.
Ireen Khumalo provided the opening for Temwa, who finished to claim her second goal and give the Scorchers a comfortable lead heading into the interval.
The hosts introduced Alice Moyo for Ethel Chinyerere at the restart, but Malawi continued to dictate proceedings and soon put the contest beyond reach.
Tabitha extended the lead in the 52nd minute before combining with her younger sister four minutes later, supplying the final pass for Temwa to complete her hat-trick.
With the result firmly in Malawi’s favour, Fazili withdrew both Chawinga sisters on the hour mark, introducing Banda and Mulimbika as the visitors maintained their attacking momentum.
The Scorchers continued to control possession and create opportunities, although Zimbabwe managed to keep the score unchanged for much of the remaining half.
Mkandawire’s afternoon ended in the 76th minute when Chavula took her place, with Malawi still firmly in command.
The visitors then produced a devastating finish, scoring three times in the closing five minutes to underline their superiority.
Banda made it five in the 86th minute with a powerful effort from outside the penalty area, giving the Zimbabwe goalkeeper little chance.
Simwaka added a sixth two minutes later, finishing after being picked out by Rose Kadzere, before Mulimbika completed the rout in the 90th minute from Faith Chinzimu’s pass.
The result capped an impressive two-legged performance by the Scorchers, who scored nine goals without reply to advance comfortably in their pursuit of a place at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Bullets Women midfielder Lyna James was also named in the squad but did not feature in Harare.
Malawi will now turn their attention to a meeting with Kenya in February 2027, with the East Africans having advanced following a 22-0 aggregate victory over Seychelles.
