Screenshot
Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, have made history by winning the silver medal after finishing runners-up at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Sunday.
The Scorchers’ historic campaign ended with a defeat after they lost 3-0 to Cameroon in the final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. Marie Ngah scored twice, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto added another as Cameroon secured their first-ever WAFCON title.
Despite the final setback, Malawi’s journey to the final was a remarkable breakthrough for women’s football in the country. The Scorchers entered the tournament as debutants after securing their first-ever WAFCON qualification by eliminating Angola 2-0 on aggregate.
Their run to the final also secured Malawi a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the WAFCON serving as the African qualifying tournament.
The achievement is even more significant given the quality of opposition Malawi faced throughout the tournament. Drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt, the Scorchers successfully topped the group stage before progressing through the knockout rounds to reach the final.
The historic campaign also showcased the depth of talent in Malawi’s domestic women’s game. Silver Strikers Ladies, the reigning NBM Women’s Premiership champions, provided five players to the Scorchers squad. The five were Ireen Khumalo, Tionge Phiri, Madyina Nguluwe, Chikondi Gondwe and Deborah Henry.
From WAFCON debutants to continental runners-up and World Cup qualifiers, Malawi’s women have announced themselves on the African football stage.
The five players from Silver Strikers Ladies will go straight into camp, joining the rest of the Ladies’ squad ahead of the 2027 CAF Women’s Champions League/COSAFA Qualifiers scheduled for Botswana this week.
