By Chiyembekezo Kachitsa
Malawi’s historic run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) continues tonight when the Scorchers face Algeria in the semi-finals, with a place in the final at stake.
The Scorchers reached the last four after coming from behind to beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals, securing Malawi’s first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the process.
The victory has transformed what started as a tournament debut into one of the biggest stories of this year’s WAFCON.
Now, Malawi is two victories away from lifting its first continental women’s football title.
Scorchers Making History
Malawi entered the competition as debutants but have continued to defy expectations throughout the tournament.
The team has already recorded a historic victory over defending champions Nigeria and then eliminated Ghana in the quarter-finals.
The 2-1 victory over the Black Queens also secured Malawi a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, marking the country’s first-ever qualification for the global tournament.
The achievement means the Scorchers have already surpassed the expectations surrounding their first WAFCON appearance.
But the team now has its eyes on an even bigger prize.
Algeria Next
Algeria will provide Malawi’s next test in tonight’s semi-final.
The North Africans have also secured their place at next year’s World Cup, meaning both sides will enter the contest with history already made.
For Malawi, however, victory would mean reaching a first-ever WAFCON final.
The other semi-final will see hosts Morocco face Cameroon, with the winners of both matches meeting in the final.
Interestingly, none of the four remaining teams has previously won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, meaning the 2026 tournament is guaranteed to produce a new champion.
Temwa Chawinga in Golden Boot Race
Malawi’s hopes are also being fuelled by the form of Temwa Chawinga.
The forward has scored four goals at the tournament and is currently just one goal behind Zambia’s Barbra Banda, who leads the Golden Boot race with five.
Cameroon’s Marie Ngah is also in contention with three goals.
With Malawi guaranteed at least one more match, Chawinga still has an opportunity to overtake Banda and finish the tournament as the competition’s leading scorer.
Her goals have been central to Malawi’s impressive campaign and will once again be crucial against Algeria.
From World Cup Qualification to WAFCON Glory?
For Malawi, qualifying for the World Cup was already a historic achievement.
But the mood around the Scorchers has now shifted.
The question is no longer whether Malawi can compete at this level.
It is whether the debutants can go all the way.
A victory against Algeria would send Malawi into its first-ever WAFCON final and leave the Scorchers one match away from becoming African champions.
The tournament has already shown that Malawi cannot be written off.
The Scorchers have beaten Nigeria.
They have eliminated Ghana.
They have secured a World Cup ticket.
Now, they have another opportunity to make history.
Algeria stands between Malawi and the WAFCON final.
And across Malawi, the dream is getting bigger: the Scorchers can actually win this trophy.
Malawi vs Algeria — WAFCON semi-final, tonight.
