Chawinga eyes Falcons upset in WAFCON bow

Malawi's national women's football team, the Scorchers, are set to make their Women's Africa Cup of Nations debut against formidable opponents Nigeria. Striker Temwa Chawinga has issued a warning, promising a stern test for the 10-time champions in their opening match in Rabat.

"To beat the defending champions would mean a lot to us," Chawinga stated. "It’s our first game, so it would boost our morale and give us confidence and motivation to do even better. Because if you start well by winning your first game, a game against a team like Nigeria, the team starts believing, ‘Okay, we can do this.’"

“

To beat the defending champions would mean a lot to us. It’s our first game, so it would boost our morale and give us confidence and motivation to do even better. Because if you start well by winning your first game, a game against a team like Nigeria, the team starts believing, ‘Okay, we can do this.’

While much of the pre-match attention focuses on the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, the younger sibling emphasized that Nigeria should not underestimate the rest of the Malawian squad. "They know me and Tabitha. But they don’t know our other players or the way we play. If they focus on us, we have other players who can do the job,” she asserted.

“

They know me and Tabitha. But they don’t know our other players or the way we play. If they focus on us, we have other players who can do the job.

Despite being considered underdogs, Malawi harbors ambitions beyond mere participation. Chawinga revealed that qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup is a key objective. "It’s true we might be underdogs, but everyone knows we need to work hard to achieve everything," she said. "If we could qualify for this tournament, we can go to the World Cup. We’re not just going there to participate. We’re going there to compete."

The Scorchers will face Egypt and Zambia after their opening clash with Nigeria. The top four teams at the WAFCON will automatically qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, with one additional spot available through intercontinental playoffs, providing significant motivation for Malawi's maiden appearance.

“

It’s true we might be underdogs, but everyone knows we need to work hard to achieve everything. If we could qualify for this tournament, we can go to the World Cup. We’re not just going there to participate. We’re going there to compete.