Johannesburg - Pop diva Madonna on Monday made a fresh attempt to adopt a second child from the southern African state of Malawi, according to media reports.

Lawyers for the 50-year-old US-born singer launched an appeal against a Malawian court's rejection of her application to adopt a 4- year-old girl, Chifundo James, known as "Mercy," according to broadcaster BBC. The singer was not present in court.

The court recently denied the application on the basis that Madonna did not meet the legal requirement for adoption because she was not resident in the country.

In 2006, the singer adopted the then 13-month-old David Banda in Malawi. She recently returned to the country with Banda and her two older biological children, Lourdes and Rocco.

Mercy, whose mother died shortly after giving birth, has been living in an orphanage. The man who claims to be her father, James Kambewa, has reportedly sought custody, saying he wanted to take care of the child.

Kambewa, 24, wrote to prosecutors seeking a court order that would prevent the wealthy singer from adopting Mercy.