Chawinga strikes again as Malawi withstand Algeria fightback in Rabat

Malawi restored their advantage against Algeria at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with captain Tabitha Chawinga scoring her second goal to put her side within reach of the CAN Feminine 2026 final.

The match had become increasingly open after Algeria pulled a goal back through Ikram Adjabi. The Algeria forward converted following a free-kick delivered by Marine Dafeur, giving the Vertes renewed belief and placing Malawi under sustained pressure.

For a period of the second half, the Malawians were forced to defend deep. Algeria sought to build on Adjabi’s goal and continued to test a Malawi side that was struggling to regain control of the contest.

However, Malawi resisted the pressure. Rather than committing too many players forward, they allowed Algeria to retain possession and looked for opportunities to break quickly. That approach eventually produced the decisive moment in the 77th minute.

Chawinga was released into space behind the Algerian defence. The Malawi captain showed her pace and composure to move clear before beating Chloe N’Gazi and finding the net for a second time.

Her goal not only gave Malawi another advantage but also strengthened their position as they attempt to reach the final. Chawinga’s double has become the central feature of a match in which Algeria had appeared to regain momentum after reducing the deficit.

The goal also underlined Malawi’s ability to remain effective despite spending much of the second period under pressure. Their defensive organisation enabled them to absorb Algeria’s attacks, while their decision to rely on counter-attacking football created the opening that Chawinga exploited.

Algeria had hoped Adjabi’s finish, created by Dafeur’s set-piece delivery, would lead to a further revival. Instead, Malawi responded with the move that once again shifted the balance of the game.

With the match entering its later stages, Chawinga’s second strike has brought Malawi closer to the final. Algeria must now find another response after their promising spell was halted by the Malawi captain’s run through the defence and finish beyond N’Gazi.

The latest setback leaves the Vertes needing to recover quickly, while Malawi can take confidence from surviving a difficult passage and turning a counter-attack into a valuable goal.