Tabitha Chawinga scored twice and sister Temwa Chawinga once as tournament outsiders Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 on Wednesday in Rabat to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Malawi are ranked 153rd in the world, 116 places below the pre-WAFCON favourites and record 10-time champions Nigeria, who bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Debutants Malawi took advantage of Algerian Morgane Belkhiter being red-carded for a last-defender foul midway through the first half to build a 2-0 half-time lead.
Captain Tabitha Chawinga struck with an overhead kick in the 33rd minute after a corner, and Temwa Chawinga rounded goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi to score one minute into added time.
The Malawi women’s team celebrates their semi-final win against Algeria at the 2026 WAFCON. Photo: cafonline
Having scored twice, Malawi were also reduced to 10 players when Rose Kadzere was sent off for a studs-up tackle just before the break.
Algeria pulled one goal back on 60 minutes through Ikram Adjabi only for Tabitha Chawinga to restore the two-goal advantage with a solo goal after 76 minutes.
Kansas City-based Temwa Chawinga has scored five goals in the marquee African women’s football tournament and Tabitha from French club Lyon four.
The Algeria women’s team in their semi-final match against Malawi at the 2026 WAFCON. Photo: cafonline
After conceding a third time, there was no way back for Algeria, who must settle for the third-place play-off on Saturday.
On Sunday, Malawi will face Morocco or Cameroon, who meet in the second semi-final later on Wednesday, in the final with a record two-million-dollar first prize on the line.
By reaching the semi-finals, Malawi, Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon have qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.