Olivia Phikani
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Malawi | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ntopwa Women's Football Team | ||
| International career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Malawi | |||
Medal record | |||
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Olivia Phikani is a Malawian footballer who plays as a defender for the Malawi National team and Ntopwa Women's Football Club, with whom she won the 2022 FAM National Women’s Championship. Phikani was in the squad for Malawi's debut at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2026.
Career
The 2022 FAM National Women’s Championship final was decided when Ntopwa Women’s Football Club defeated Ascent Academy in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw. Phikani was one of five Ntopwas players to score goals in the penalties.[1]
In August 2023, the team, managed by James Sangala, travelled to Durban, South Africa, to compete in the CAF Women’s Champion’s League COSAFA Qualifiers.[2]
In April 2025, Phikani travelled to South Africa as part of the national team in order to play two matches against the South Africa women's national soccer team. The team was significantly weakened because of administrative complications that led to the absence of key players, such as the Chawinga sisters and Rose Kabzere. Phikani featured in the matches played in Soweto and Pretoria.[3]
In June 2025, Phikani was chosen to play as a defender as part of Lovemore Fazili's 24 strong Malawian National team to play Morocco in Casablanca. She left the Kukoma Ntopwa Women team to join a training session in Blantyre before they left for Casablanca. The teams' manager paid special attention of the defense in this game.[4][5] Fazili chose her again as a defender in the national women's team in March 2026 for the Four Nations FIFA Series matches in Kenya. She was one of four players from the Kukoma Ntopwa Women team to be called up. The others were the lead goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo, fellow defender Rose Alufandika and midfielder Funny Magombo.[6]
Phikani was part of the squad at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in August 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.[7] She and the squad earned theit first place for the Malawian team in the 2027 World Cup.[8] Malawi has never competed before at that level.[9] Malawi joined Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.[10]
References
- ↑ "Ntopwa win 2022 National FAM Women's Championship". COSAFA | The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ↑ "Ntopwa Women's FC off to South Africa for CAF/Cosafa tourney". Malawi 24. 26 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ Mabuka, Dennis (2 April 2025). "Malawi Scorchers squad to face Banyana Banyana unveiled - Africa Top Sports". Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ "Malawi coach focuses on defence ahead of Atlas Lionesses' clash". 16 June 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ Mabuka, Dennis (16 June 2025). "Malawi Scorchers off to Morocco for friendly on June 19 - Africa Top Sports". Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ↑ "Scorchers Regroup Ahead Of Four Nations FIFA Series Tournament". AfricaBrief. 31 March 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ Usman, Salifu (August 2026). "Super Falcons Begin WAFCON Defence Against Ambitious Malawi". Leadership.
- ↑ Chirwa, Garry (10 August 2026). "Scorchers through to Wafcon semis, World Cup". Nation Online. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "History made! Malawi's Scorchers stun Ghana to book place at World Cup for the very first time – as nation erupts in wild celebration". 9 August 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Women's World Cup 2027: Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi & Morocco qualify". BBC Sport. 9 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
|  | |