Chawinga Sisters Propel Malawi to Historic Wafcon Final

Malawi's Chawinga sisters once again proved decisive as the Scorchers secured a historic place in the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) final with a 3-1 victory over Algeria in Rabat. Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga shared three goals, continuing their remarkable run at the tournament and extending Malawi's fairy-tale debut.

A Debutant's Dream Run

Despite being the lowest-ranked team in Morocco, Malawi have defied expectations throughout the competition. The Southern Africans, making their first Wafcon appearance, have now added Algeria to a list of scalps that already includes heavyweights Nigeria and Ghana. Their success marks a significant moment for women's football in Africa, proving that growth can extend beyond traditional powerhouses. Excluding the inaugural edition in 1998, Malawi are the first debutant to reach the final.

The victory also guarantees Malawi a place at next year's Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil, a feat they had already secured by reaching the semi-finals. Now, they stand on the verge of an even greater achievement, with the Chawinga sisters in devastating form.

A Frantic Encounter in Rabat

The scoreline, however, did not reflect the chaos of a match that featured two first-half red cards, both issued after video assistant referee (VAR) interventions, and numerous missed chances at both ends. Algeria defender Morgane Belkhiter was sent off midway through the first half for denying Tabitha Chawinga a goalscoring opportunity, a decision that appeared harsh even after replays showed contact on the heel.

Tabitha broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with an acrobatic overhead kick that struck the crossbar, bounced on the turf, and spun back over the line. Temwa extended the lead in first-half added time, but Malawi's Rose Kadzere was then dismissed following another lengthy VAR check for a studs-up lunge.

The second half was slightly calmer, though Algeria's Ikram Adjabi briefly gave her side hope before Tabitha's second goal ended any chance of a comeback.

Sisters Deliver on the Hype

The Chawinga sisters have been the driving force behind Malawi's success, scoring eight of the team's 12 goals—five for Temwa and three for Tabitha. Their pace, power, and positional awareness have troubled every defence they have faced.

Tabitha, who helped Lyon to another French title last season, and Temwa, who won a second golden boot and MVP award with NWSL side Kansas City Current, arrived in Morocco with high expectations. Those expectations have been fully justified.

Tabitha's opener will be remembered for its audacity. When Asimenye Simwaka—who just two weeks ago competed in the 200m and 400m semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow—headed a corner back into the box, the elder Chawinga had her back to goal and seemed to pose little threat. But the 30-year-old twisted to execute a clever left-footed overhead kick that beat Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazi, though not the crossbar. As N'Gazi twisted to avoid the ricochet, the backspin on the ball carried it over the line.

Malawi will now face either hosts Morocco or Cameroon in Sunday's final at 19:00 GMT, aiming to become the fourth nation to lift the Wafcon trophy and complete one of the most remarkable underdog stories in African football.