Malawi erupts as Scorchers book historic WAFCON final spot
The Malawi National Women’s Football Team — the Scorchers — have carved yet another chapter in their fairytale rise, storming into the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final after a commanding 3–1 victory over Algeria under the Moroccan floodlights on Wednesday night.
Malawi began with less possession but far more bite, carving out chances that kept Algeria on edge from the opening whistle.
The pressure soon told.
After just 23 minutes, Algerian defender Morgane Belkhita was sent off for a reckless, studs‑up challenge on the advancing Tabitha Chawinga, leaving the North Africans a woman down and rattled.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute. A Malawi corner was nodded down by Asimenye Simwaka, and captain Tabitha Chawinga — with ice‑cold instinct — launched herself into an acrobatic overhead kick that sailed over goalkeeper N’gazi‑Boumrar and into the net. Pure magic.
Moments before the interval, midfield maestro Faith Chinzimu sliced open the Algerian defence with a perfect through ball to Temwa Chawinga, who rounded the keeper with ease to make it 2–0.
But the drama wasn’t done.Eight minutes into added time, Malawi’s own Rose Kadzere, just 20, was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge — levelling the numbers and setting up a tense second half.
Algeria clawed one back on the hour mark when captain Dafeur’s free kick slipped past defender Chimwemwe Madise, allowing Adjabi‑Diong to fire past Mercy Sikelo.
But the Scorchers were not finished.
In the 76th minute, defender Benadeta Mkandawire launched a long, decisive pass to Tabitha, who burned past her marker and nutmegged an Algerian defender before beating N’gazi‑Boumrar again — a ruthless finish and her second of the night.
The 3–1 victory sends Malawi into their first‑ever WAFCON final, where they will face the winner of the Morocco–Cameroon semi‑final, still underway as we went to press.
The Scorchers are rewriting Malawi’s football story — and they’re doing it with fire.
