Malawi stunned football fans by reaching the final of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after defeating Algeria 3-1 in Rabat on Wednesday. The victory marks a historic milestone for the team, ranked 153rd globally and making their tournament debut.
Key moments:
- Tabitha Chawinga opened the scoring with a spectacular overhead kick in the 33rd minute.
- Her sister, Temwa Chawinga, extended the lead just before halftime by rounding the Algerian goalkeeper.
- Despite Malawi being reduced to 10 players after Rose Kadzere’s red card, they maintained control.
- Algeria pulled one back through Ikram Adjabi in the 60th minute.
- Tabitha sealed the win with a solo effort in the 76th minute.
The Chawinga sisters have been pivotal throughout the tournament, with Temwa netting five goals and Tabitha four. Their performances helped Malawi overcome pre-tournament favourites Nigeria, who exited in the quarter-finals.
Malawi’s success also guarantees their participation in the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, alongside Algeria, Morocco, and Cameroon, who advanced to the semifinals. Malawi will face the winner of the Morocco vs Cameroon semifinal in the final on Sunday, competing for a record $2 million prize.
