Malawi has reached the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final after a 3-1 victory against Algeria in Rabat. The Scorchers, appearing in the tournament for the first time, were driven by the outstanding performance of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.
The match was intense, featuring two red cards following VAR interventions. Algeria defender Morgane Belkhiter was sent off first, shortly before Tabitha Chawinga scored a remarkable overhead kick to open the scoring. Temwa Chawinga added a second goal during stoppage time of the opening half. Although Rose Kadzere was later dismissed for a dangerous tackle, Malawi maintained their control.
Ikram Adjabi pulled one back for Algeria in the second half, but Tabitha Chawinga secured the win with her second goal of the match. Malawi, the lowest-ranked team in the competition, had previously defeated powerhouses like Nigeria and Ghana. They will now face Cameroon in the final this Sunday, seeking their first continental trophy.
The siblings have been vital to this campaign, contributing eight of the team’s twelve total goals. Their success has helped Malawi qualify for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup, cementing their status as the surprise package of the tournament.
