Sisters-in-arms: The Chawinga duo leading Malawi’s dream run at WAFCON

From kicking a ball around in Malawi to lighting up one of Africa’s biggest football stages, sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga are living a dream that has taken Malawian football to unprecedented heights.

The Chawinga sisters have been at the heart of the Scorchers’ remarkable run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, inspiring the debutants to the semi-finals and securing historical qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Few expected Malawi to go this far. Yet, the Scorchers have not only embraced the occasion, they have fearlessly challenged Africa’s established football powers, proving they belong among the continent’s elite.

Tabitha, the team captain and seasoned forward, brings vital composure and leadership to a squad featuring a blend of experienced players and newly promoted youth talents. Her influence is felt both on and off the pitch.

“We thank God for the win today. We were asking God to help us qualify for the World Cup and we did it. We really appreciate God. We appreciate the players and the coach. No one gave Malawi a chance because we have young players in the squad. That is where I see the hand of God for us,” said Tabitha.

As they gear up for their semi-final showdown against North African giants Algeria, Tabitha remains confident in their ability to storm into the final.

“Algeria is a good team, we respect them. We need to prepare as well. For today, we will celebrate qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. We will prepare well for our next match. I know the Algerian coach, he is also my friend. I was with him in China. I also know one player who is my teammate at Olympique Lyonnais, Sofia Bekhaled,” she added.

Yet, perhaps the most captivating narrative of Malawi’s success is the effortless chemistry between the two sisters.

Years of playing together have forged an intuitive understanding that requires almost no verbal communication—they instinctively know where to move, when to make a run, and when to release the ball.

For Tabitha, this connection is the team's ultimate secret weapon.

“Temwa is young and strong. Against Ghana, she was everywhere and that helped our team win. Normally before matches, we usually talk and plan how we are going to play. Having played together most of the time, Temwa knows my position during the match without even looking at me and places the ball where I am,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kansas City current forward Temwa has emerged as one of the tournament’s most lethal attackers, tallying four goals—just one behind Zambia’s top scorer, Barbra Banda.

She was named Player of the Match following another masterclass in Malawi’s historic 2-1 quarter-final victory over Ghana.

For Temwa, however, individual accolades take a backseat to team glory.

“This is an amazing feeling in the whole camp. The football president of Malawi came today to give us a word of encouragement. For now, we are not talking about the semi-final. We are going to celebrate first, then go back to training to fix our mistakes before our next game," she said.

“The fighting spirit from the girls has been our motivation. We didn’t know we would be here. We have done an amazing job. We are taking one match at a time. I am dedicating this win to my mom. She was watching the game. She has been so supportive."

Her statistics tell a remarkable story, Temwa scored twice in Malawi’s historic 3-2 group-stage victory over defending champions Nigeria, securing the debutants' first-ever continental win. She then posted a goal and an assist in their 3-1 triumph over Egypt before finding the back of the net once more against Ghana.

Tabitha set the tone early in the tournament, scoring and registering an assist in their opener against 10-time champions Nigeria—a performance that signaled Malawi was not in Morocco merely to make up the numbers.

Their joint journey began long before the bright lights of WAFCON. The sisters launched their senior careers in Malawi with DD Sunshine before taking their talents overseas. Tabitha moved to Sweden’s Kvarnsvedens IK, with Temwa following in 2017.

Their paths later led to China, where Temwa joined Wuhan Jianghan University in 2020, followed by Tabitha a year later.

Tabitha has since established herself at French powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais, lifting consecutive French league titles in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons.

Reunited in national colours, their blend of pace, goalscoring power, and telepathic understanding has transformed Malawi from tournament dark horses into genuine title contenders.

More importantly, they have delivered a landmark moment in Malawian sports history, a inaugural spot on the World Cup stage.

The Scorchers have already rewritten history, but with Algeria waiting in the semi-finals, the Chawinga sisters are ready to write the next chapter.