The sisters who made World Cup history!
By Jill Dando News Correspondents, Mnjiri Good News Room, Malawi
Defying all the odds, Malawi, the country ranked 153rd in the world for football, reached the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Malawi were debutants at this year’s Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and have been at the centre of one of the biggest rises in this tournament, in both women’s and men’s football.
The ‘Scorchers’ have seen an immense rise to success, beating previous winners Zambia and 10-time champions Nigeria on their way to the final.
They also beat Algeria 3-1 in the semi-final, before facing Cameroon in the final, where they lost 3-0.
Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga played a huge part in Malawi’s historic run.
They both scored in the team’s 3-2 group-stage victory over Nigeria at Rabat’s Al Madina Stadium.
The final was played in Rabat, where Cameroon made history by winning their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. Marie Ngah put Cameroon ahead in the 20th minute before Naomi Eto doubled their lead with a volley.
Ngah scored again in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0.
Despite the final defeat, Malawi’s journey has been unprecedented for a team that has faced significant challenges with funding and resources.
It is thought that the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to expand the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from 12 to 16 teams gave more countries the opportunity to compete at the tournament. The expansion was introduced for the 2026 edition.
Older sister Tabitha was the first Malawian woman to play professional football in Europe.
She has played in France and is now with Lyon. Temwa has also enjoyed huge success in the NWSL, joining Kansas City Current in 2024 and becoming the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards.
“Our mum did not allow us to play, but we didn’t listen,” Temwa Chawinga said when speaking to the Olympics.
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Both sisters are now international stars, inspiring the growth of women’s football in Malawi and encouraging girls and women across the country to get involved in the sport.
Malawi’s historic WAFCON run also secured the team a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil – their first appearance at the tournament.
Cameroon also qualified, alongside WAFCON semi-finalists Morocco and Algeria.
