Ascent Academy have been granted a licence to participate in 2024 Confederation of African Football (Caf)/ Cosafa qualifiers after fulfilling all the requirements.
This year’s Caf/Cosafa qualifier will take place from August 16 to 24 in Durban, South Africa.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) First Instant Body (FIB) scrutinised Ascent’s documents during a meeting held in Blantyre on Saturday.
Fam Club Licencing and Compliance Manager Casper Jangale said Ascent passed the test with flying colours.
“Ascent’s submissions were topnotch. The FIB was very impressed with the documents from Ascent and as such we, as Fam, congratulate them as they embark on a journey to participate in an international tournament,” Jangale said.
Ascent qualified for the competition after winning the Goshen Fam Women’s Championship with a 100 percent record held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in May this year.
They beat Malawi Defence Force Lionesses 1-0 in the final.
Ascent Director of Operations Thom Mkolongo said they were excited to have been granted the licence.
“We will now focus on preparations and other logistics for the tournament,” Mkolongo said.
Ascent will become the second women’s football team from Malawi to participate in the qualifiers after Kukoma Ntopwa.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women and Silver Strikers Ladies (then DD Sunshine) failed to take part in the tournament despite showing interest in participating in it.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Parry Chinyama has said Ascent can pull a surprise at this year’s tournament.
“Ascent have a very good team of youngsters. Of course, they need to beef up in some areas but I can see them doing well at international stage,” he said.
In 2023, Ascent contributed four players— namely
Rose Kabzere, Faith Chinzimu, Maggie Chavula and Leticia Chinyamula— to the Scorchers squad which won the Cosafa Cup.
During the Goshen Fam Championship final, Fam President Fleetwood Haiya pledged K100 million to clubs that will participate in inter-club competitions in both the men’s and women’s category this year.
This means Ascent could qualify for the package if they win in the Cosafa qualifier.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa are the defending champions.
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