Chawinga sisters fire debutants into final

Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga scored all three goals as Malawi triumphed over Algeria 3-1, securing a place in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat. This marks the first time debutants have advanced this far in the competition since Zimbabwe in 2000. The match, officiated by Nigerian referee Yemisi Akintoye, had two red card incidents in the first half.

Algeria fielded ten players after defender Morgane Belkhiter was sent off for denying Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Elder sister Tabitha opened the scoring with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 33rd minute, followed by her younger sister Temwa doubling Malawi's lead in first-half stoppage time.

Algeria's Rose Kadzere scored a consolation goal after the restart, but Tabitha sealed the victory with her second goal. This win marks Malawi's achievement as the lowest-ranked side to defeat three established nations - Nigeria, Ghana, and Algeria - on their path to a first WAFCON final appearance.