Malawi’s remarkable debut campaign at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 reached another historic milestone on Wednesday as the Scorchers defeated Algeria 3-1 to secure their first-ever appearance in the tournament’s final.
Making their maiden WAFCON appearance, Malawi have emerged as the surprise package of the competition. The Scorchers finished top of Group C with six points despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Zambia, progressing through a head-to-head tiebreaker alongside Nigeria and Zambia. Their stunning run continued in the knockout stages, with Malawi defeating Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Algeria.
The Scorchers will now face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in what promises to be a thrilling WAFCON 2026 final. While Malawi’s historic rise has captured the imagination of African football fans, they face a Cameroon side with a wealth of experience on the continental stage.
Cameroon have reached the WAFCON final on four previous occasions (1991, 2004, 2014 and 2016), finishing as runners-up each time after losing to Nigeria in the title decider. However, the Lionesses will be hoping this campaign finally ends their wait for a maiden continental crown.
Standing between Malawi and history will be a disciplined Cameroonian defence led by goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, whose performances have been among the highlights of the tournament. The shot-stopper has produced crucial saves throughout the knockout stages, including a standout display against Nigeria, making her one of Cameroon’s biggest weapons heading into the final.
The Malawi Women’s Football Team, known as the Scorchers, was formed in the early 2000s under the Football Association of Malawi. In its early years, the team struggled with limited resources, a lack of structured domestic leagues, and insufficient funding—challenges reflected in heavy defeats on the international stage. In response, the team shifted its focus to building regional structures and introducing girls to football at the grassroots level, laying the foundation for long-term growth and development.
The emergence of the Chawinga Sisters ( Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga) paved the way for the women national team by playing professionally in Europe and Asia. Their constant involvement in the women’s national team and constant exposure through regular participation in regional COSAFA tournament helped the women’s national team climb the FIFA ranking of 110 in late 2017.
The Malawi women’s national team entered the 2023 COSAFA tournament with remarkable determination and went on to lift their first-ever major silverware by winning the title. Building on that success, they qualified for WAFCON 2026 by overcoming Angola—drawing the first leg and securing a 2-0 aggregate victory, with both goals scored by Faith Chinzimu.
The final presents a fascinating contrast: Cameroon’s experience and years of continental pedigree against Malawi’s fearless ambition and historic breakthrough. The two sides will meet in the WAFCON 2026 final on Sunday, August 16, in Rabat, Morocco, with the continental title at stake.
Regardless of the outcome of the final, Malawi have already written their names into African football history. The Scorchers’ breakthrough campaign has delivered a first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification, turning their WAFCON debut into a defining moment for the nation’s women’s football.
