Malawi eye historic WAFCON final as Algeria stand in their way

The Scorchers of Malawi have already had a remarkable journey at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) but they are daring to dream even bigger as they face Algeria in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the Olympic Stadium at 8pm Kenyan time.

The hosts Morocco will play against Cameroon in the second semi-final set for Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat from 11pm Kenyan time.

Malawi becomes only the second national team from the country, across senior and youth men’s and women’s football, to qualify for a FIFA World Cup tournament. The Malawi men’s Under-17 side competed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009.

After missing the start of WAFCON to represent her country in the 200M and 400M in the just-concluded Commonwealth Games, Asiminye Simwaka joined the Malawi squad in the middle of the group stage.

The 29-yaer old reached her semi-finals in the 200M with a personal best of 23.60 seconds after finishing fourth in her heat.

In the 400m, she qualified for the semi-finals with 54.16 seconds her best time of the season, made it to the final, but she was disqualified for stepping out of her lane.

Simwaka missed Malawi’s first two matches in the tournament, a remarkable 3-2 against Nigeria and 3-1 against Egypt.

She came in for an injured Sabina Thom for the clash against Zambia. She also played in the decisive quarter-final match against Ghana.

The right winger intimated the Schochars have a special relationship with God and the fact that people took Malawi as an underdog, God has seen them through the historic moments so far.

Simwaka intimated that they will go to the World Cup not only to participate but compete.

“We are ready for the semi-finals. We will fight for the finals. All players are ready. The mood is very good. All players are fighting. As Malawians, we are so excited because this is the first time to qualify for the World Cup and compete in WAFCON. We are so happy together with my fellow players," she said.

"I like sports, I am a hard worker doing athletics and football, my secret is you need to work hard and be disciplined."

Making their debut at the continental showpiece, Malawi has defied the odds to reach the last four and secure a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Scorchers have already shown that they belong among Africa’s best. Now they will look to turn their remarkable fairytale into a historic run to the final.

This is the first time Algeria has reached the semi-finals of the continental showpiece and also the first time to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

None of the four remaining teams have previously won the WAFCON. The tournament will therefore have a first-time champion for the second time in three editions, after South Africa claimed their maiden title in 2022.