Malawi’s women’s national football team, known as the Scorchers, produced one of the most remarkable stories of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Algeria 3-1 in the semi-final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, August 12. In their first-ever appearance at the continental tournament, the southern African side booked a historic place in the final, becoming the first WAFCON debutants to reach that stage since the inaugural edition in 1998.
The match was high-octane and physical from the outset, with both teams reduced to ten players after red cards in the first half. Algerian full-back Morgane Belkhiter was sent off in the 22nd minute for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity to Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga.
The Lyon forward then opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a sensational quasi-bicycle kick from a corner, putting the Scorchers ahead. Temwa Chawinga, Tabitha’s sister and a standout performer throughout the tournament, doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time by receiving a through ball, rounding goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi, and slotting home for her fifth goal of the competition. Malawi midfielder Rose Kadzere was shown a red card just before the interval, leaving both sides with ten players for the second half.
Algeria responded after the break and pulled a goal back in the 60th minute through Ikram Adjabi, who finished a half-volley after defensive lapses by the Malawian backline. The Scorchers regained control, however, and Tabitha Chawinga sealed the victory with her second goal of the night in the 76th minute, racing into the box and calmly finishing past N’Gazi to make it 3-1.
Entering the tournament ranked 153rd in the world by FIFA, Malawi had already exceeded all expectations by qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after their quarter-final victory over Ghana.
The Chawinga sisters have been central to the fairytale run, combining for multiple goals and driving the team past established powers such as Nigeria and Ghana. Algeria, who had also secured their first World Cup berth by reaching the semi-finals, will now contest the third-place match.
