Malawi will face Cameroon in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday, having transformed their first appearance at the tournament into an unlikely title challenge. Ranked 153rd in the world before the competition – the lowest of the 16 participating nations – the Scorchers have become one of the standout teams in Africa.
Their run began with a stunning 3-2 victory over holders Nigeria in their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in late July. That result proved to be the start of something significant rather than a one-off upset.
Malawi went on to finish top of their group, beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals and then overcome Algeria 3-1 in the last four. Each result strengthened the sense that this team, despite its limited tournament experience, belongs among the continent’s elite.
Much of Malawi’s success has been built around sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga, whose careers have developed at the highest levels of the women’s game.
Tabitha, 30, was the first of the pair to make her mark internationally. As a child, she was beaten by her mother because playing football – regarded as a “boys’ sport” – was seen as bringing shame on the family.
Her path changed when an employee of a non-governmental organisation helped arrange a trial in Sweden. That opportunity made Tabitha the first Malawian woman to play football in Europe.
She later moved to China, where she won titles and scored heavily. Loan spells gave her the chance to play for Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. With Paris Saint-Germain, she became the first Malawian to appear in the Women’s Champions League and the first to score in the competition. She subsequently joined OL Lyonnes.
Temwa, 27, followed a similar route through Sweden and China. In 2023, she finished as the world’s leading scorer across the calendar year, registering 63 goals.
Those performances earned her a move to the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States, one of the strongest women’s competitions in the world. With Kansas City Current, she has won the league’s awards for top scorer and best player in two successive seasons, while also setting the record for most goals in a single season with 20.
The sisters’ achievements have also been recognised on the global stage. Tabitha finished 16th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin voting, while Temwa was 17th last year.
They have been central to Malawi’s progress in Morocco. Temwa has scored five goals and provided two assists, while being named player of the match twice. Tabitha has added four goals. Together, they have repeatedly appeared capable of deciding matches at will, with their pace while carrying the ball proving particularly difficult for opponents to contain.
Malawi’s improvement did not begin with this tournament. In 2023, the team won the COSAFA Women’s Championship for the first time, under coach Lovemore Fazili, who remains in charge during this Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The influence of the Chawinga sisters has also helped create space for a new generation. Rose Kadzere, a 20-year-old playmaker who has impressed with Montpellier, has been one of the team’s key creative figures, although she will miss the final through suspension.
Faith Chinzimu, 19, has provided relentless energy in midfield and plays for Hacken in Sweden. Malawi’s unexpected appearance in the final could therefore represent more than a historic tournament run – it may be the beginning of a sustained period of influence in African women’s football.
