Malawi’s run at this year’s WAFCON has been formidable. Tournament debutants and the lowest-ranked side in the competition, the Scorchers defied expectations to reach the final, announcing themselves as one of the tournament’s standout teams.
Although their historic run ultimately ended in defeat in the final, their achievement extends far beyond the result. Victories over Egypt, Ghana and Algeria secured Malawi’s place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, marking the first time in the nation’s history that a Malawian senior team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
For a country whose national team did not regularly train or play together until 2022, and whose domestic league was trapped in a cycle of investment and defunding that forced promising players like Maggie Chombosadiki into early retirement, it is evident that the Scorchers’ success is the product of years of dedication to the growth of the women’s game; signalling a new era for Malawian football on the continental stage.
Since 2023, the Scorchers have trained and played together during every international window, received equal pay to the men’s side for tournament wins and appearances, while the national league has moved towards semi-professionalisation. The progress is a reminder of what can happen when women’s football is given the consistency, resources and opportunities it has long deserved.
It is impossible to discuss Malawi’s success throughout WAFCON without highlighting the attacking force at the heart of their campaign. Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga have collectively scored three-quarters of Malawi’s goals in Morocco, establishing themselves as the faces of a team that has captured the continent’s attention.
Their journey is a testament to the determination of women who continue to pursue football despite the barriers placed in front of them. The Chawinga sisters refused to let the limitations of Malawi’s domestic game stand in the way of their ambitions.
In 2017, Tabitha Chawinga became the first Malawian woman to play professional football in Europe, leaving home for Sweden’s third division. She made an immediate impact, scoring 39 goals in just 18 appearances. Her career would take her from Sweden to China and back to Europe, where she became the Serie A top scorer with Inter Milan, earned moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, and became the first Malawian footballer to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Her younger sister Temwa followed a similar path, beginning her professional career in Sweden before establishing herself in China and eventually becoming one of the NWSL’s most prolific forwards. Since joining Kansas City Current, she has won consecutive Golden Boots and MVP awards, cementing herself among the league’s elite.
Having individually put Malawian football on the map across three continents, the sisters have now brought that experience home. United in a Malawi shirt, Tabitha and Temwa have become the driving force behind a Scorchers side that has forced the world to take notice.
WAFCON may be over, but Malawi’s story is only beginning. For the first time, the Scorchers will take their place on the world stage, armed with the confidence of a team that has already shown it belongs. If their performances in Morocco are anything to go by, the world had better be ready.
