Rabat, Morocco
– The numbers said it shouldn't happen. The rankings said it was impossible. But someone forgot to tell the Malawi Scorchers.
In a heart-stopping semi-final at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament—making their WAFCON debut, mind you—did what fairytales do. They wrote another unbelievable chapter, defeating Algeria 3-1 to book a place in the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
And leading the charge? The Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, shared all three goals and sent a nation into delirium.
A Tale of Two Sisters, One Unforgettable Night
It was a match that had everything. Drama? Check. Controversy? Double-check. Goals that will be replayed for years? Absolutely.
The first twist came early when Algeria defender Morgane Belkhiter was shown a red card after a VAR review for a foul on Tabitha Chawinga. With Algeria down to ten players, the Scorchers sensed blood.
And then, in the 33rd minute, magic happened.
Tabitha Chawinga—who plays her club football for Lyon in France—pulled off something special. From a corner, she executed an acrobatic overhead kick that crashed off the crossbar. For a split second, time stood still. The ball spun high into the air and dropped over the line. One-nil to Malawi. Cue chaos in the stands.
"We knew we could do this. We have always believed in each other," Tabitha seemed to say with every celebration.
If the first goal was a masterpiece, the second was pure instinct. Just before halftime, Temwa Chawinga—who stars for Kansas City Current in the NWSL—was released by a perfectly threaded pass. She rounded the Algerian goalkeeper, Chloe N'Gazi, and calmly slotted home. It was her fifth goal of the tournament, putting her level with Zambia's Barbra Banda at the top of the scoring charts.
The Rollercoaster Ride
This is football, though, and fairytales never come without heart palpitations.
Malawi's own Rose Kadzere was sent off just before the break following another lengthy VAR check for a studs-up challenge. Ten against ten. Game on.
Algeria, smelling a comeback, pulled one back in the 60th minute through Ikram Adjabi. The stadium held its breath. The nightmare of blowing a two-goal lead loomed large.
But the Scorchers have ice running through their veins.
In the 76th minute, Tabitha Chawinga delivered the knockout punch. She took a diagonal ball from Benadetta Mkandawire, found a gap in the Algerian defence, and slotted past N'Gazi to make it 3-1. Brace complete. Final secured.
"Tears of Joy" – The Coach's Heartbreak and Triumph
To understand what this means, you have to understand the tears.
Earlier in the week, after knocking out Ghana to qualify for the World Cup and this semi-final, head coach Lovemore Fazili couldn't hold back the emotion. In an exclusive interview, the Silver Strikers legend spoke about the tears streaming down his face.
“I thank the heavens and my lord for this big blessing he has given to the Scorchers and me to qualify for the World Cup and WAFCON semi-finals," Fazili said, his voice still heavy with emotion. "I get overwhelmed with joy when I reflect on what God has done for me in my coaching career. These are not tears of sadness. These are tears of joy."
He admitted the emotion came from the doubt that had followed him in the build-up to the tournament. "It is a reminder that no matter the challenges I face, I should not give up," he said.
Fazili and his technical team, including South African compatriots Sudesh Singh and Tyrese Steyn, have steered this team through a historic run that defies all logic. Singh, the team's technical advisor, had been confident ahead of the game. "We have the belief that we can win this game because we enter every match trying to play positive football," he had said before kickoff. He was proven right.
A Nation's Dream
This is not just a football story; it is a story about the human spirit. The Scorchers have already beaten Nigeria (the defending champions) and Ghana on their way here. They are the first WAFCON debutants since 2000 to reach the semi-finals. And now? They are the first debutants to reach the final since 1998.
They have already qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil next year, but they want more. The trophy.
Standing in their way on Sunday, August 16, will be the winner of the other semi-final between hosts Morocco and Cameroon. Whoever it is, you can be sure of one thing: the Scorchers won't be fazed.
They have already punched so far above their weight that they're floating. And in a world that loves an underdog, everyone, for one night, is a Scorcher.