WAFCON 2026: Beyond the Chawinga sisters, why Malawi could win Women’s Africa Cup of Nations

WAFCON 2026: Beyond the Chawinga sisters, why Malawi could win Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Every major tournament has a team that quietly rewrites the script. The team who rarely makes the headlines before the tournament but steals the show afterwards At the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, that team could be Malawi. At first glance, the Scorchers appear easy to define. Mention Malawi, and the conversation almost immediately turns to Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga — arguably the most recognisable sibling duo in African women’s football. It is an understandable reaction. Between them, they possess pace, goals, experience and the ability to decide matches in an instant. Yet, reducing Malawi to the Chawinga sisters misses the bigger picture. The Scorchers have evolved into a far more complete side than many realise, and it is that evolution that gives them the potential to challenge Africa’s established powers. Malawi and their playing identity at WAFCON 2026 One of Malawi’s greatest strengths is the clarity of their playing identity. Unlike teams that attempt to dominate possession regardless of the opposition, Malawi understands exactly where they are most dangerous. They attack vertically, transition quickly and look to exploit space before defensive blocks can recover. The objective is rarely to circulate possession for long periods. Instead, they seek to recover the ball, move it forward with purpose and commit runners early. That approach naturally suits the profiles within their squad. Temwa Chawinga — fresh from another outstanding club campaign with consecutive NWSL Golden Boots — has established herself as one of the world’s most feared forwards. She thrives when attacking space. Her acceleration, relentless pressing and intelligent movement behind defensive lines make her almost impossible to contain once the game becomes stretched. This was how she scored her goals against the Super Falcons in their opening WAFCON match.  Tabitha Chawinga offers something different. Beyond being a goalscorer, she frequently drifts into deeper areas, links play and creates overloads that allow others to attack central spaces. Together, the sisters stretch opponents in different ways. One drops towards the ball, the other threatens beyond it. Few defensive partnerships enjoy facing both problems at the same time. But this is no longer a team built solely around two stars. Embed from Getty Images Malawi beyond the Chawinga sisters Rose Kadzere has developed into one of Malawi’s most technically gifted players.  Comfortable receiving under pressure and driving through midfield, she gives the Scorchers another route into the final third when direct transitions are unavailable. Alongside her, Faith Chimzimu has emerged as an increasingly important presence in midfield, providing the positional discipline and ball retention that allows Malawi’s more adventurous players to attack with freedom. If you watched the UEFA Europa league finals, you’d know how brilliant the midfield maestro is on and off the ball. Their importance cannot be overstated. For years, Malawi often depended on moments of individual brilliance. Today, they possess players capable of controlling the rhythm of matches, progressing possession and connecting defence to attack. That balance has made them significantly more unpredictable. The supporting cast extends even further. Leticia Chinyamula continues to offer creativity and intelligent movement in advanced areas. Meanwhile, Asimenye Simwaka brings energy, directness and a willingness to attack defenders one-on-one. Vanessa Chikupila provides additional attacking options capable of influencing games from the bench or the starting XI, giving head coach Lovemore Fazili tactical flexibility that previous Malawi teams lacked. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IndiaSportsHub (@indiasportshub) Defensively, the Scorchers have also become more organised. This is not a team that simply absorbs pressure and hopes to counter. Their defensive structure is compact, their lines remain relatively connected and they defend with collective discipline before springing into transition. The presence of experienced players such as Chimwemwe Madise has strengthened the back line, while the midfield’s willingness to recover quickly reduces the distances opponents can exploit between the lines. Of course, legitimate questions remain. Malawi enter their first-ever WAFCON having endured an inconsistent run of results in the build-up to the tournament. They lack the tournament pedigree of Nigeria, the defending champions’ experience of South Africa, and the growing depth of Morocco. Navigating the emotional and tactical demands of a continental championship is a challenge no amount of club football can fully replicate. Yet, knockout football has always rewarded more than reputation and the results so far has ascertained this. In the knock-outs, anyone can win. And if there is a team that is cohesively organised, with players who understand their exact roles and execute these roles with precision, then that team is Malawi. Faith Chimzimu with her UEFA Europa League Trophy. They also benefit from something many favourites do not: freedom. Expectations remain relatively modest, allowing the Scorchers to approach matches with less external pressure than many of their rivals. History is filled with tournament teams that transformed belief into momentum, and momentum into unforgettable runs. Could Malawi realistically win WAFCON 2026? The honest answer is that at the moment, they have 25 percent chance to win it. By tomorrow, they might have 50 percent chance (all due respect to the Algerians, who have been another fairytale story). Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia all possess deeper squads and greater tournament experience. On paper, each begins the competition ahead of the Scorchers but they have been eliminated. If Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga continue their outstanding form, if Kadzere and Chimzimu dictate the tempo in midfield, and if Malawi’s collective structure continues to function as cohesively as it has shown it can, then the Scorchers have every ingredient required to become the surprise package of WAFCON. Perhaps the biggest mistake anyone can make this summer is assuming Malawi are simply the Chawinga sisters and everyone else. Because this team has quietly become something much more dangerous. It has become a cohesive team, capable of making history. Related articles from Her Football Hub: WAFCON 2026: The shift of a new era in African football and the representation it is providing WAFCON: Rui Costa is the architect behind Cape Verde’s meteoric rise CAF invests in efforts to improve leadership of women’s football associations across Africa