Chawinga Sisters Fire Malawi into Final

Malawi have reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, after defeating Algeria 3-1 in Rabat as the Chawinga sisters scored all three goals to continue their remarkable debut campaign.

The Scorchers took control after Algeria were reduced to ten players early in the first half when defender Morgane Belkhiter received a red card. Tabitha Chawinga, the Malawi captain, broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with an acrobatic effort that struck the crossbar and bounced into the net. Moments before half-time, her sister Temwa Chawinga doubled the lead, showing composure to round the goalkeeper after being played through and slotting the ball into an empty net for a 2-0 advantage at the break.

Malawi began the second half brightly, with Temwa Chawinga again threatening as she burst past three defenders only to fire wide. Algeria reduced the deficit in the 60th minute when Ikram Adjabi reacted quickest to a loose ball following a dangerous free-kick from Marine Dafeur and volleyed home. The Scorchers restored their two-goal cushion later in the half as Tabitha Chawinga beat her marker and drove a left-footed shot into the net to complete her brace.

Algeria continued to press and came close in the 87th minute when substitute Laura Muller rounded the goalkeeper, only for recovering defenders to prevent a goal. Disciplined defending ensured no further scoring, and the final whistle confirmed Malawi’s 3-1 victory.

The result sends the Scorchers into their first-ever continental final, where they will compete for the title after an impressive debut tournament. The Chawinga sisters have been central to the campaign, combining clinical finishing with creativity to carry their side past more established opponents. Their performance against Algeria underlined both individual quality and the collective progress of a team that has exceeded expectations throughout the competition in Morocco.