Malawi reached the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final for the first time after Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga combined for all three goals in a 3-1 semi-final victory over Algeria at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
- Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in the WAFCON semi-final; Tabitha scored twice and Temwa once.
- Two first-half red cards followed VAR reviews, leaving both teams with ten players at half-time.
- Malawi, making their WAFCON debut, have reached the final and qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
- Malawi will face Cameroon in the final on Sunday.
What happened
On Wednesday Malawi, playing in their first WAFCON, beat Algeria 3-1 to secure a place in Sunday’s final. Tabitha Chawinga scored twice and her younger sister Temwa added the other goal. Algeria’s Ikram Adjabi pulled one back in the second half, but Tabitha’s second strike restored Malawi’s two-goal cushion and settled the tie.
Key moments and match detail
- Morgane Belkhiter was shown a red card after a VAR review for denying Tabitha Chawinga a goalscoring opportunity, reducing Algeria to ten players in the first half. (Source 1, Source 2)
- Tabitha opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with an overhead effort that struck the crossbar and crossed the line. (Source 1, Source 3)
- Temwa made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time after rounding the goalkeeper. (Source 1, Source 5)
- Malawi’s Rose Kadzere received a red card before half-time following a VAR check, leaving both teams with ten players at the break. (Source 1, Source 2)
- Ikram Adjabi reduced the deficit about an hour into the match from a loose ball after a free-kick. (Source 1, Source 3)
- Tabitha’s second — a composed finish inside the box — restored the two-goal advantage and secured the 3-1 win. (Source 1, Source 3)
Context: why this matters
Malawi entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked side but have knocked out established teams en route to the final, having previously beaten Nigeria and Ghana in Morocco. Their run guarantees them a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after reaching the WAFCON semi-finals. Several outlets described the campaign as a “fairy tale” underdog story given Malawi’s debut status at these finals. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 5)
The Chawinga effect
The sisters have been central to Malawi’s success. Sources report Temwa has five goals at the tournament and Tabitha three, accounting for eight of Malawi’s 12 goals in the competition. Tabitha plays for Lyon in France and Temwa for Kansas City Current in the NWSL; both clubs and their profiles were noted as part of the pre-tournament hype that has been borne out on the pitch. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 5)
What comes next
Malawi will face Cameroon in the final on Sunday in Rabat. Cameroon beat Morocco on penalties to reach the final; both Cameroon and Malawi have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup by making the WAFCON semi-finals. The final presents Malawi with a chance to become only the fourth nation to lift the WAFCON trophy. (Source 4, Source 5)
Immediate implications
- Malawi’s appearance in the final is historic: they are the first debutants since at least 2000 to reach the WAFCON final, according to contemporary reports. (Source 2)
- The result secures Malawi a World Cup berth for 2027 in Brazil. (Source 4, Source 5)
- For Algeria, the defeat ends their run to the semi-finals and follows their qualification for their first Women’s World Cup. (Source 2)
Timeline of the semi-final (selected events)
- Mid-first half: Morgane Belkhiter sent off after VAR review for denying a goalscoring opportunity to Tabitha Chawinga. (Source 1)
- 33rd minute: Tabitha Chawinga scores an overhead effort that bounces off the crossbar and over the line. (Source 1, Source 3)
- First-half stoppage time: Temwa Chawinga rounds the goalkeeper and makes it 2-0. (Source 1, Source 5)
- Shortly before half-time: Malawi’s Rose Kadzere shown a red card after VAR review. (Source 1, Source 2)
- ~60th minute: Ikram Adjabi pulls one back for Algeria. (Source 1, Source 3)
- 76th minute (reported timing varies): Tabitha scores her second to restore a two-goal lead and effectively clinch the match. (Source 1, Source 5)
Notes on source differences
The evidence packet contains consistent core facts: the 3-1 scoreline, the three Malawi goals coming from the Chawinga sisters, two first-half red cards following VAR reviews, and Malawi reaching the final to face Cameroon. Some sources differ slightly on timings and descriptive detail (for example, exact minutes of events and phrasing of Tabitha’s first goal). Where precise minute-by-minute timings vary between reports we have noted the commonly reported moments without privileging a single minute from an individual outlet. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 5)
What to watch in the final
- How Cameroon’s defensive organisation copes with the Chawinga sisters’ pace and movement.
- Set-piece and VAR interventions — both played a decisive role in the semi-final and could influence the final. (Source 1)
- The psychological edge for Malawi, who have momentum as debutants and a chance to complete a rapid rise at the expanded 16-team tournament. (Source 1, Source 6)
“Tabitha and Temwa have scored eight of Malawi’s 12 goals” — reported across multiple outlets.
Sunday’s final will determine whether Malawi’s remarkable run ends with a landmark title or a near-miss. For now, the Chawinga sisters have ensured Malawi’s name will be prominent in this year’s continental story.