Asimenye Simwaka balances sprints and football as Malawi reach AFCON final | OneFootball

Malawi winger and sprinter Asimenye Simwaka, 29, has straddled track and pitch for years. Fresh from carrying the flag at Paris 2024 and competing at the Commonwealth Games, she will contest the AFCON final on Sunday.

According to L'Équipe, she joined the squad a few days after the tournament began following her Glasgow races, missing the first two matches. The Scorchers are at their first AFCON and face Cameroon as they chase a maiden international title.

Her dual path took off in February 2020 when, already a footballer, she entered a 10 km cross-country race in Mzuzu and won in 42 minutes 48 seconds. She had gone in for fun, then resolved to take athletics seriously.

A year later she reached the Tokyo Olympics in the 100 metres, finishing last in her heat but setting a national record of 11.68. In Paris 2024 she was co-flag bearer with swimmer Filipe Gomes, advanced from the prelims in 11.78, then exited round one in 11.91.

Since 2024 she has held Malawi records of 11.35 for 100 metres, 22.91 for 200 and 51.55 for 400. That year she was third at the African Championships over 200 metres and sixth in the 100.

Her Commonwealth Games form in late July was off her best, clocking 23.60 and 54.16, but football now offers a quick chance to make amends.

Source: L'Équipe

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