Malawi’s Chawinga sisters lead an unlikely Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final charge

Malawi will face Cameroon in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday, completing a remarkable rise for a side that had never previously appeared at the tournament and began the competition as the lowest-ranked of its 16 teams.

Ranked 153rd in the world by FIFA when the tournament began, the Malawi Scorchers have overturned expectations at every stage. Their progress first captured attention with a 3-2 victory over defending champions Nigeria in their historic opening match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in late July.

That result proved to be more than a one-off upset. Malawi went on to finish top of their group, beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals and then defeated Algeria 3-1 in the semi-finals to reach the final.

The team’s emergence is built around two of the most accomplished players in African women’s football: sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga.

A family at the heart of Malawi’s success

Tabitha Chawinga, 30, was the first of the pair to establish herself in Europe. Her journey began in difficult circumstances. As a child, she was beaten by her mother because football was regarded as a “sport de garcon” and her decision to play was considered a source of shame for the family.

Her opportunity abroad came after an employee of a non-governmental organisation helped arrange a trial in Sweden. That made Chawinga the first Malawian woman to play in Europe.

She later moved to China, where she won titles and scored heavily. Loan spells gave her the chance to play for Inter Milan and then PSG. With PSG, she became the first Malawian player to appear in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the first from her country to score in the competition. She subsequently joined OL Lyonnes.

Temwa Chawinga, 27, followed a similar route through Sweden and China. In 2023, she finished as the world’s leading goalscorer across the calendar year, scoring 63 times.

Those performances earned her a move to the National Women’s Soccer League, the prestigious American competition regarded as one of the strongest leagues in the world. With Kansas City Current, Chawinga has won the league’s awards for top scorer and best player in two consecutive seasons, while also setting the record for goals in a single campaign with 20.

The sisters’ status has been recognised internationally. Tabitha finished 16th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin voting, while Temwa was ranked 17th last year.

Their performances in this tournament could take them higher still. Temwa has scored five goals and provided two assists, being named player of the match twice, while Tabitha has four goals. Together, they appear capable of changing a game whenever they choose, with their speed on the ball proving particularly difficult for opponents to contain.

A generation beginning to emerge

Malawi’s progress has not depended solely on its star duo. The national side has gained confidence in recent years, winning the COSAFA Women’s Championship for the first time in 2023 under coach Lovemore Fazili, who remains in charge for this tournament.

The success of the Chawinga sisters has also helped create a path for younger players. Rose Kadzere, the team’s creative influence, has impressed for Montpellier at the age of 20 but will miss the final through suspension.

Faith Chinzimu, 19, has also made a strong impression. A tireless midfielder, she plays for Swedish club Hacken.

For a nation that had never before reached the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Malawi’s place in Sunday’s final already represents an extraordinary achievement. Its run may also signal the beginning of a sustained period of influence in African women’s football.