Zambia women’s team were held to a 1-1 draw by Malawi in the first round, first leg of the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Lilongwe on Wednesday, October 20.

The Zambians went into the contest on the heel of a third-place finish at the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, while the Malawians ended as runners-up on a first ever final appearance.

Both teams had to turn out in the first leg meeting without their China-based stars as Malawi missed Wuhan’s Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, while Zambia could not have the services of Shanghai’s Barbara Banda due to club duties.

It was a quiet start for the hosts at the Bingu National Stadium as the home fans were stunned in the 20th minute when captain Grace Chanda broke the deadlock for the Copper Queens, who seek a third Women’s AFCON appearance.

After the break, the Scorchers, who are eyeing their first ever participation in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations fought back in the second half until Sabinah Thom struck in the 66th minute to rescue the hosts from a home defeat.

With a draw at home, the Malawians will hope to revive their hopes of progressing to the second round of the qualification series when they visit their COSAFA foes in Lusaka on Tuesday, October 26.

On the part of Zambia, they will seek to leverage on their first leg away goal advantage to wrap up their passage to the next round at the expense of the Scorchers in the return leg at the Nkoloma Stadium.