Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga combine for all three goals as the Scorchers overcome Algeria to reach their first continental final
Malawi’s Scorchers reached their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, after defeating Algeria 3-1 in Rabat, Morocco, with sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga again providing the decisive moments in a remarkable debut campaign.
Also read: WAFCON 2026: Nigeria’s Akintoye named referee for Algeria-Malawi semi-final
The victory extended a tournament run that has rapidly transformed Malawi from debutants into genuine continental contenders.
The Chawinga sisters scored all three goals, with captain Tabitha striking twice and Temwa adding the other as Malawi held off Algeria to secure a place in Sunday’s final.
Malawi gained a significant advantage before the interval when Algeria’s Morgane Belkhiter was sent off, leaving the North Africans with 10 players.
Tabitha made the numerical advantage count in the 33rd minute with a spectacular finish.
The Malawi captain connected with an acrobatic effort that struck the crossbar before crossing the line, giving the Scorchers a precious lead.
Temwa then doubled Malawi’s advantage shortly before half-time. After being played through, the forward showed composure to round the goalkeeper before calmly finishing into an unguarded net.
The Scorchers went into the interval 2-0 ahead and with a firm grip on a contest that had suddenly become difficult for Algeria.
Temwa almost added another shortly after the restart when her pace carried her beyond three defenders in the 51st minute. Her final effort, however, drifted off target.
Algeria responded in the 60th minute and briefly revived hopes of a comeback.
Marine Dafeur’s dangerous free-kick caused uncertainty inside the Malawi area, allowing Ikram Adjabi to react quickest to the loose ball and volley into the net.
The goal gave Algeria renewed belief, but Tabitha soon restored Malawi’s two-goal cushion.
The captain beat her marker before driving a left-footed effort into the net in the 76th minute, completing her brace and giving the Scorchers the breathing space they needed.
Algeria continued to search for a way back into the contest. In the 87th minute, substitute Laura Muller rounded the Malawi goalkeeper and appeared poised to score, but a delayed finish allowed the recovering defence to intervene.
Malawi survived the late pressure and saw out the remaining minutes to secure a 3-1 victory and one of the most significant achievements in the country’s women’s football history.
The result caps a remarkable debut for the Scorchers.
Malawi entered the tournament without previous experience at the WAFCON finals, yet immediately announced their arrival by defeating defending champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening Group C match. (Fam)
That opening victory was itself historic.
It was Malawi’s first match at the continental finals and Nigeria’s first WAFCON defeat to a tournament debutant. Temwa scored twice against the Super Falcons, while Tabitha also found the net.
The sisters have therefore become central figures in a campaign that has steadily gathered momentum.
Their understanding, pace and finishing have repeatedly given Malawi an attacking edge, while the team’s defensive discipline has allowed the Scorchers to protect crucial leads.
Temwa returned to the Malawi squad for the tournament after last featuring for the national side in February 2025. Her inclusion was regarded as a major boost for coach Lovemore Fazili’s squad before the competition began.
Tabitha, meanwhile, entered the tournament as captain and has continued to provide both leadership and decisive quality in front of goal.
For Algeria, the defeat ends a promising run at the tournament, although the side showed character after falling two goals behind and playing much of the match with 10 players.
For Malawi, the victory represents something far greater than a place in the final.
The Scorchers have already surpassed expectations on their first appearance and will now have the opportunity to compete for Africa’s biggest prize in women’s international football.
Malawi will face either hosts Morocco or Cameroon in Sunday’s final, depending on the outcome of the second semi-final.
Whatever happens in the title decider, the Scorchers have already secured a historic place in WAFCON history.
Also read: Cameroon shock Nigeria to end WAFCON title defence
Their extraordinary journey from debutants to finalists has been powered by the Chawinga sisters, but sustained by a team that has repeatedly shown the confidence to challenge Africa’s established powers.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
