Malawi achieves historic victory over 10-time champ Nigeria in first-ever WAFCON game
The WAFCON debutants stormed the pitch after the final whistle in Morocco, after securing one of the biggest upsets so far in the top African women’s soccer competition. The competition includes qualification for the 2027 World Cup for the tournament’s best four teams.
Kansas City Current striker and two-time National Women’s Soccer League MVP Temwa Chawinga opened scoring for Malawi in the 73rd minute. She calmly found the back of a wide-open net after beating Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who came off her line a little too early. Chawinga thumped her chest with pride after scoring her country’s first-ever WAFCON goal, which set off an intoxicating remainder of the match.
IN TEMWA WE TRUST !!!! 🥹🇲🇼
Temwa makes history scoring the first goal in Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON debut!
(via @FaMalawi) pic.twitter.com/xunG011dYi
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 28, 2026
Malawi captain and Lyon’s Tabitha Chawinga doubled the team’s lead just six minutes later, pointing and running to her younger sister, Temwa, in celebration as they embraced on the pitch. The broadcast then pivoted to Malawi fans in the stands jumping in excitement at the historic moment.
The Super Falcons got their first goal when Paris Saint-Germain forward Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty in the 91st minute. The reigning champions maintained pressure up top and nearly equalized, but Malawi refused to slow down.
By the 95th minute, Temwa Chawinga scored her second goal, securing Malawi’s lead for the final stretch. It was just the right cushion the debutants needed, especially when Cruz Azul forward Uchenna Kanu scored Nigeria’s second in the 98th. It proved too little, too late for the reigning champions.
Malawi players sprinted onto the pitch after the final whistle in celebration, with Temwa Chawinga securing Player of the Match honors. The 27-year-old is considered one of the most dynamic strikers in the NWSL, securing MVP honors in back-to-back seasons, as well as winning the league’s Golden Boot race two years in a row.
It was a historic night, indeed, for Malawi, the lowest-ranked team (No. 153) in the competition. Meanwhile, Nigeria (No. 36) is the highest-ranked African women’s national team in the world. This year’s WAFCON is also a World Cup-qualifying tournament, and Malawi has yet to debut in a World Cup.
Malawi continues its WAFCON campaign Saturday against Egypt, which fell 6-0 to Zambia earlier in the day thanks to a statement performance by Zambia captain and Orlando Pride star Barbra Banda, who recorded four goals. Nigeria looks ahead to Zambia, also on Saturday.
Malawi will conclude its group-stage fixture against Zambia on Aug. 5, in what is sure to be an entertaining match featuring some of the NWSL’s biggest stars. Zambia also features Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji and Angel City’s Prisca Chilufya.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Kansas City Current, Women’s Soccer
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