Malawi continued their fairytale run at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, securing a historic 2-1 victory over Ghana to book a place in the WAFCON semi-finals and clinch automatic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
In what has been a remarkable debut campaign, the Scorchers—who had already shocked defending champions Nigeria and Egypt in the group stage—completed another major upset courtesy of a dramatic second-half winner from Rose Kadzere.
The result not only sends Malawi into the WAFCON semi-finals but also grants the Southern African nation its first-ever ticket to the global showpiece, marking a watershed moment for women’s football in the country.
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The Black Queens made their intentions clear from the opening whistle, taking the lead after just seven minutes. Forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah capitalized on early pressure to slot Ghana ahead, giving the four-time WAFCON finalists the perfect start.
However, Malawi’s response was immediate and emphatic. Captain and star forward Temwa Chawinga, who has been the talisman of this campaign, restored parity in the 12th minute with a clinical finish. Chawinga’s equalizer settled the Scorchers’ nerves and set the stage for a tightly contested encounter.
Ghana thought they had regained the advantage shortly after the break when Doris Boaduwaa found the back of the net. However, the celebration was cut short following a VAR review, which ruled the goal out for an infraction in the buildup.
The decision proved to be a turning point. Although the Black Queens introduced fresh attacking options and piled on pressure, Malawi’s defense remained resolute, frustrating Ghana’s forwards with disciplined positioning and timely interceptions.
As Ghana pushed forward searching for a winner, they left gaps at the back—and Malawi pounced. In the 79th minute, Rose Kadzere found space inside the penalty area, received a clever pass, and calmly slotted the ball past the Ghana goalkeeper to put the Scorchers 2-1 ahead.
The goal sent Malawi’s bench into delirium and silenced the Ghanaian supporters. Despite a frantic final ten minutes and stoppage time, the Black Queens could not find an equalizer, as the Scorchers held firm to secure the most significant victory in their footballing history.
For Malawi, competing at their first-ever Women’s AFCON, the dream has become a stunning reality. The Scorchers have not only reached the WAFCON semi-finals but have also secured one of Africa’s automatic qualification slots for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. It is a monumental achievement for a team that entered the tournament as underdogs but has now announced itself on the continental and global stage.
For Ghana, however, the path to Brazil 2027 is not yet closed. The Black Queens’ hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2007 remain alive, though the route is now more challenging. Ghana will face Côte d’Ivoire in an African play-off, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-offs for another shot at World Cup qualification.
Malawi’s extraordinary run at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations underscores the rapid growth of women’s football across the continent. The Scorchers have proven that with belief, discipline, and world-class talent—embodied by the Chawinga sisters—smaller footballing nations can compete with the traditional powerhouses.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Malawi to see if they can extend their dream debut even further. But regardless of what happens in the semi-finals, the Scorchers have already written their names into the history books.