Malawi’s Chawinga sisters once again demonstrated their exceptional skills, each netting goals in a 3-1 victory over Algeria, which secured the Scorchers a place in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Rabat. Defying their status as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, the Southern Africans, who are making their Wafcon debut, proved too formidable for their opponents. They have already claimed triumphs over heavyweights Nigeria and Ghana earlier in the competition.
However, the match was not merely defined by the scoreline. A tense, back-and-forth affair, it featured two first-half red cards issued after video assistant referee (VAR) intervention and several missed chances from both teams.
Algeria’s defender Morgane Belkhiter received a red card for denying Malawi’s captain Tabitha Chawinga a scoring opportunity before Tabitha herself broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. She executed a brilliant overhead kick that struck the crossbar, then bounced back over the line.
Temwa Chawinga then doubled their lead right before half-time, scoring in the added minute. Shortly after, her teammate Rose Kadzere was also shown a red card following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge.
The second half saw some light moments, with Ikram Adjabi giving Algeria a glimmer of hope, but Tabitha Chawinga’s second goal put an end to any chances of a comeback.
The Scorchers will now prepare to face Cameroon in the final on Sunday at 19:00 GMT, aiming to become the fourth nation to lift the Wafcon trophy and complete a remarkable underdog story.
Sisters Meet Pre-Tournament Expectations
Malawi’s success in the expanded 16-team tournament is showcasing the potential growth of women’s football in Africa beyond traditional powerhouses. Excluding the tournament’s inaugural event in 1998, they stand as the first debutant to reach the final.
After securing their spot at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, thanks to their performance in the semi-finals, the Scorchers are now on the cusp of something significant. With the Chawinga sisters in peak form, anything seems attainable.
Tabitha’s performances helped OL Lyonnes clinch another French title last season, while Temwa earned a second golden boot and MVP award with NWSL team Kansas City Current. The sisters have justified the pre-tournament hype, contributing to eight of their team’s 12 goals—five from Temwa and three from Tabitha—showcasing their incredible speed, power, and tactical awareness that consistently troubles opposing defenses.
Tabitha’s opening goal will be remembered for its originality. As Asimenye Simwaka attempted a corner kick, Tabitha managed to make a surprising overhead kick, sending the ball striking the crossbar before ricocheting into the net
Belkhiter’s red card midway through the first half seemed severe, though replays indicated she did catch Tabitha’s heel during the challenge. The foul occurred far from goal, and her teammate Roselene Khezami had also made a legitimate play for the ball.
Temwa Chawinga took full advantage of the dearth of defenders, rounding goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi and scoring to make it 2-0, although Kadzere’s subsequent red card re-opened the match for Algeria.
With the second half underway, both teams missed critical opportunities before Adjabi’s goal in the 60th minute brought Algeria back into contention. Poor defensive handling from two Malawi defenders allowed her to score, narrowing the gap.
As exhaustion set in among players, Tabitha Chawinga sealed the match with her second goal, effortlessly maneuvering into the penalty area and placing the ball into the net.
Ranked 153rd worldwide, Malawi’s stunning Wafcon journey continues with one last challenge against Cameroon, who recently triumphed over the hosts in a tense penalty shootout. However, the Chawinga sisters approach the final with the confidence that they can compete against anyone.
Malawi’s Chawinga sisters were once again the stars of the show, sharing three goals as the Scorchers continued their fairy tale run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) by booking their place in the final with a 3-1 victory over Algeria in Rabat.
Belying their status as the lowest-ranked side playing in Morocco, the Southern Africans, who are making their Wafcon debut, were too strong for their opponents, adding Les Fennecs to their list of scalps having already defeated heavyweights Nigeria and Ghana earlier in the tournament.
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But the scoreline failed to tell half the story of a frantic, end-to-end encounter which featured two first-half red cards awarded after the intervention of the video assistant referee (VAR) and a slew of presentable opportunities which were spurned by both sides.
Algeria defender Morgane Belkhiter had already seen red for denying Malawi skipper Tabitha Chawinga a goalscoring opportunity before the older of the two sisters broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, executing an acrobatic overhead kick which cannoned off the crossbar and hit the turf before spinning wildly back over the goal line.
Temwa Chawinga extended the lead in the first minute of first-half added time before her team-mate Rose Kadzere was also dismissed before the break following another extended VAR check, this time for a studs-up lunge.
The second half was only marginally more sedate, with Ikram Adjabi initially giving Algeria hope before Tabitha Chawinga’s second goal snuffed out any chance of a comeback.
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The Scorchers will face Cameroon in Sunday’s final (19:00 GMT), looking to become the fourth nation to lift the Wafcon trophy and complete what would be a remarkable underdog story.
Sisters live up to pre-tournament hype
Malawi’s success at an expanded 16-team tournament in Morocco is proving that women’s football in Africa has the potential to grow beyond the traditional big names.
Excluding the inaugural edition in 1998, they are the first debutant to reach the final.
But having already booked their place at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, courtesy of their run to the last four, the Scorchers are now on the verge of something very special – and anything looks possible with the Chawinga sisters firing on all cylinders in attack.
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With Tabitha helping OL Lyonnes to another French title last season, and with Temwa winning a second golden boot and MVP award with NWSL side Kansas City Current, there was plenty of hype ahead of this campaign.
All of it now appears justified as the sisters have scored eight of their team’s 12 goals – with five for Temwa and three for Tabitha – and appear to have a level of pace, power and positional awareness which opposition defences struggle to cope with.
Tabitha’s opener in this match will be remembered for a long time.
When Asimenye Simwaka, who just two weeks ago was running in the 200m and 400m semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, headed a corner back into the middle of the penalty area, the elder Chawinga looked to pose little danger given she had her back to goal.
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But the 30-year-old twisted to apply a clever left-footed overhead kick which beat Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi but not the crossbar.
As N’Gazi also twisted to avoid being struck by the ricochet, she probably thought she would be able to collect the ball on the bounce, but the backspin meant it could only end up in the back of the net.
Belkhiter’s red card, which had come midway through the first half, had looked harsh, even if replays clearly showed the defender catching Tabitha on the back of the heel.
The challenge came a long way from goal and Belkhiter’s team-mate Roselene Khezami, who was challenging from Chawinga’s other side, did get something on the ball as she lunged in at the same time.
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Temwa Chawinga took advantage of the numerical advantage to round N’Gazi and stroke home to make it 2-0, but Kadzere’s deserved red card shortly after opened the door to the North Africans.
The Malawi midfielder just about made contact with the top of the ball before going over the top and catching Marine Dafeur above the ankle.
The challenge, however, came inside the Algeria penalty area and was totally unnecessary.
Algeria’s Melissa Bethi and Temwa Chawinga both missed glorious opportunities inside the opening minutes of the second period before Adjabi’s strike on the hour.
Two Malawi defenders made a mess of dealing with Dafeur’s deep free-kick, allowing the forward to fire back across goal on the volley to half the deficit.
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Both sides looked to be running out of steam before Tabitha Chawinga settled the contest with her second goal, driving into the penalty area almost unchallenged to side-foot home from just outside the six yard box.
Ranked 153rd in the world, Malawi have taken Wafcon by storm.
One final hurdle remains in the form of Cameroon, after they saw off the hosts on penalties, but on this form the Chawinga sisters will feel anyone is beatable.
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