Malawi Women’s National Team forward Temwa Chawinga says the Scorchers defied the odds at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after many doubted their chances of progressing from a challenging Group C.
Malawi were drawn alongside Egypt, Zambia and defending champions Nigeria, with the Scorchers eventually progressing to the quarter-finals alongside Nigeria. Their impressive run continued all the way to the final, where they finished as runners-up after losing 3-0 to Cameroon.
Scorchers Ignored the Doubts
Chawinga revealed that Malawi entered the tournament with very little expectation from outsiders, with some giving them only a two-percent chance of progressing from their group.
“I remember people gave us only two percent chances of qualification from our group. That never affected us; we believed in ourselves,” she said.
The Scorchers went on to prove their doubters wrong, producing one of the biggest stories of the tournament and reaching the WAFCON final in their first-ever appearance at the competition.
Chawinga Wins Golden Boot
Temwa capped her remarkable tournament with the WAFCON Golden Boot, scoring five goals in six matches.
The Kansas City Current forward also registered two assists, featuring in every match as Malawi made their historic run to the final.
Despite the personal achievement, Chawinga stressed that the team’s ultimate ambition was to win the tournament rather than finish as runners-up.
“That was our target but all in all we just thank God for everything, our first time to be here, happy for the girls, we did everything but failed to get what we wanted,” she said.
Teamwork Behind Golden Boot
Chawinga credited her teammates for helping her claim the individual award, highlighting the collective effort behind her goalscoring success.
“I am happy to have won the golden boot; teamwork made it possible. I thank all Malawians who supported us from day one to this far; we tried, but I hope there is a next time,” she added.
The forward formed a formidable attacking partnership with her elder sister Tabitha Chawinga, with the sisters playing a key role in Malawi’s historic campaign.
A Historic WAFCON for Malawi
Malawi’s journey from being written off in Group C to reaching the final represented one of the most remarkable stories of the tournament.
The Scorchers defeated strong opposition on their way to the final and demonstrated the quality and resilience required to compete against some of Africa’s established women’s football powers.
Although they ultimately fell short against Cameroon, Malawi’s historic run has raised expectations around the future of women’s football in the country.
Conclusion
Temwa Chawinga’s Golden Boot was the perfect individual reward for a player who helped lead Malawi through an unforgettable WAFCON campaign.
The Scorchers may have missed out on the trophy, but their journey from being given a two-percent chance of qualification to reaching the final has firmly established Malawi as a force to watch in African women’s football.
