You Have to See How the Chawinga Sisters Made History: Malawi Beat Algeria 3-1 to Reach Their First Wafcon Final

Rabat, MMN Correspondent: Malawi's Scorchers have pulled off something truly special. With a 3-1 win over Algeria in the semi-final, they have reached the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final for the very first time. The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, did what they have done all tournament: they stepped up when it mattered most.

This is the same Malawi side that arrived in Morocco as the lowest ranked team at Wafcon 2026. The world ranking said 153rd. The other teams had bigger names, more experience, and deeper squads. None of that has stopped the Scorchers. They have already beaten Nigeria and Ghana on their way to this point. Algeria became their latest and most memorable scalp on August 12 in Rabat.

If you missed the match, here is what happened. Algeria defender Morgane Belkhiter was shown a red card in the 25th minute for a challenge on Tabitha Chawinga. Replays showed contact on the back of the Malawi captain's heel, and although teammate Roselene Khezami also touched the ball, the decision stood after a VAR review. It was a big moment, but it was only the beginning.

Eight minutes later, Tabitha produced one of the most spectacular goals you will ever see in African women's football. Asimenye Simwaka, who had been competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just two weeks earlier, headed a corner back into the penalty area. With her back to goal, Tabitha twisted her body and unleashed a left-footed overhead kick. The ball crashed off the crossbar, bounced down, and crossed the line. Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazi could only watch. It was the kind of goal that makes you rewind and watch again.

Temwa Chawinga then doubled Malawi's lead in the first minute of added time. The younger Chawinga, fresh off an NWSL Golden Boot season with Kansas City Current, raced onto a ball, rounded the keeper, and finished calmly. Malawi were 2-0 up and cruising. But just before halftime, Rose Kadzere was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Marine Dafeur. The match changed in an instant.

The second half was just as fascinating. Both sides had chances to score. Melissa Bethi and Temwa Chawinga both missed opportunities in the opening exchanges, leaving everyone in the stadium on edge. Then Algeria found a way back. In the 60th minute, Marine Dafeur delivered a deep free kick into the box, and Ikram Adjabi volleyed it home. The score was 2-1, and the pressure was suddenly on Malawi.

This is where the Chawinga sisters showed their true quality. In the 78th minute, Tabitha picked up the ball and drove into Algeria's penalty area almost unchallenged. She side footed it home from close range, making it 3-1. That goal ended the contest and sent the Malawi bench into celebration.

The numbers from this tournament are remarkable. The Chawinga sisters have combined for eight of Malawi's 12 goals. Temwa has scored five, Tabitha has three. Their movement, pace, and understanding of each other have been impossible to defend. Tabitha has been the creative heart, while Temwa has been the clinical finisher. Their club seasons with Lyon and Kansas City Current have clearly sharpened their edge.

What makes this run even more special is the context. Excluding the inaugural Wafcon in 1998, Malawi are the first debutants to reach the final. They have shown that the traditional powers of African women's football are not the only ones capable of making history. The depth of the game on the continent is growing, and Malawi are proof that belief can carry a team a long way.

Cameroon now stand between Malawi and the trophy. The final takes place on Sunday at 19:00 GMT in Rabat. This will be the biggest match in Malawi's football history. A win would make them only the fourth nation to lift the Wafcon trophy, and it would complete a journey that no one saw coming.

Can the Chawinga sisters do it one more time? If their performances in Morocco are anything to go by, Cameroon will have to be ready for everything. Malawi have already won hearts across Africa. But with Tabitha and Temwa in this kind of form, the story might not be finished yet.