What's happened
Malawi’s Scorchers have secured a 3-1 win over the 10-time champions Nigeria in a Group C clash at Al Madina Stadium. Temwa Chawinga netted twice and captain Tabitha Chawinga added a third as Malawi, surprise entrants to the tournament, upset the Super Falcons who pulled a late goal back through Rasheedat Ajibade from the penalty spot. The result moves Malawi to second in Group C behind Zambia, with two group matches left.
What's behind the headline?
Key takeaways
- Malawi’s defense and counter-attacking approach has paid off against Africa’s most successful women’s team, signaling a potential shift in group dynamics.
- Temwa Chawinga’s double and Tabitha Chawinga’s late strike highlight the Scorchers’ potency in forward areas, offering hope for continued upset potential.
- Nigeria’s late penalty keeps them in the race, but the result exposes vulnerabilities in a team accustomed to dominating African women’s football.
What this means going forward
- Malawi is now arguably favorites to advance from Group C alongside Zambia, given their early position and momentum.
- Nigeria will need to adjust quickly to avoid being eliminated early in the tournament, especially with tough fixtures remaining against Egypt and Zambia.
How we got here
Malawi, in their Wafcon debut, have overcome expectations by clinching a famous victory over a dominant Nigerian side. The match showcased Malawi’s disciplined defence and counter-attacking threat, with Temwa Chawinga’s brace proving decisive. The group standings see Zambia leading after a 6-0 win over Egypt, leaving Malawi in a prime position ahead of fixtures against Egypt and Zambia.
Our analysis
All Africa reports the late-game drama, including Temwa Chawinga’s brace and the Nigerian consolation via Rasheedat Ajibade, while BBC Sport Africa provides context on Nigeria’s historical dominance and remains the benchmark in African women’s football.
Go deeper
- Can Malawi stay ahead in Group C with two games left?
- What adjustments will Nigeria make to rebound against Egypt and Zambia?
- Will Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga continue their goal-scoring form for Malawi?
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Egypt - Country
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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Malawi - Country in East Africa
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland.
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Nigeria - Country in West Africa
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sovereign country located in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.
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Esther Okoronkwo - Nigerian footballer
Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo OON (born 27 March 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Canadian Northern Super League club AFC Toronto and the Nigeria national team.
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Zambia - Country in East Africa
Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern-Central Africa. Its neighbours are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and
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Tabitha Chawinga - Malawian footballer
Tabitha Chawinga is a Malawian footballer who plays as a forward for Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Women's Super League and the Malawi women's national team.