There is still something to play for at Nyayo National Stadium this afternoon from 2PM [EAT] as the India women’s national football team and the Malawi women’s national football team face off in the third-place playoff of the FIFA Women’s Football Series.

Both sides arrive at this stage seeking a response after difficult semifinal outings. India were beaten 2-0 by the Kenya women’s national team, while Malawi struggled against a star-studded Australia side that ran out 5-0 winners. With the final out of reach, the clash offers a chance to restore pride and end the tournament on a positive note.

For India, the tournament has been as much about adaptation as it has been about results. Head coach Crispin Chettri admitted his team faced a different level of physicality against Kenya, a challenge that exposed key learning areas. “There is a lot of learning to take away from that, especially the physicality and how to cope with it,” he noted, while expressing confidence that his side has addressed those gaps ahead of the Malawi clash.

Chettri also emphasized the broader significance of the tournament, insisting development outweighs results. “This tournament is all about smaller countries that want to develop women’s football and grow as national teams,” he said, underlining the value of exposure to different playing styles beyond the South Asian circuit.

On the other side, Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili has maintained a positive outlook despite the heavy loss to Australia. Facing a side led by global stars like Sam Kerr provided a clear benchmark, and he now expects a response from his players.

Fazili confirmed that his squad is fully fit and ready, revealing a clear intent to approach the game on the front foot. “Our approach will be very attacking because we need to score and win,” he said, stressing that his side is determined not to leave Nairobi empty-handed.

Midfielder Vanessa Chikupila echoed that determination, highlighting the lessons drawn from facing top opposition. “We lost the previous game, but we believe we will come back stronger,” she said, pointing to the Australia match as a defining learning experience for the squad.

For both teams, this fixture goes beyond the result. It is about applying what has been learned over the past few days, responding to setbacks, and building momentum for the future.

As the curtain begins to fall on the tournament, the third-place playoff presents one final opportunity for India and Malawi to leave Nairobi with a victory, and perhaps more importantly, with renewed belief in their progress.