Tabitha Chawinga scored six goals as Malawi thrashed Lesotho 9-0 ©COSAFA

Tabitha Chawinga scored six goals as Malawi thrashed Lesotho 9-0 at the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Women's Championship.

Chawinga, who plays for Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Women's Super League, opened her account at the tournament in South Africa with the double hat-trick. 

Sister Temwa Chawinga was also on the scoresheet, alongside Zainabu Kapanda and Asimenye Simwaka.

Malawi are now top of Group B on goal difference, with their 9-0 win slightly superior to Zambia's 8-0 triumph over Lesotho. 

The second match at the Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth was between Botswana and Tanzania in Group C. 

Thanda Mokgabo scored the only goal of the match as Botswana emerged 1-0 winners. 

The group stage is set to be completed on Monday (November 9) after a rest day tomorrow. 

In Group A, hosts South Africa are due to take on Comoros, while Angola meet Eswatini.

Zambia will play Malawi in Group B, with Zimbabwe against Botswana in Group C.