This is our time, Chawinga boasts after Falcons defeat
July 31, 2026 12:00 am
File: Malawi and Nigerian players during the WAFCON group opener
Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga has declared that the Scorchers are ready to make the most of their historic debut at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after their stunning 3-2 victory over defending champions Nigeria in Rabat, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Chawinga, who scored one of Malawi’s goals in the famous victory, revealed that she and her younger sister, Temwa, had been waiting for their opportunity to shine on the continental stage.
“It was amazing; my sister and I spoke with each other and we thought, ‘This is our time,’” the older Chawinga said after the match on Tuesday.
She also credited their teammates for playing their part in securing one of the biggest upsets in WAFCON history.
“We have been waiting to play at the WAFCON for long but we didn’t qualify. So this is very important for us. She was everywhere on the pitch and we just encouraged everyone to work hard, and they did it,” she said.
Much of the pre-match attention had focused on the Chawinga sisters, but Temwa warned Nigeria against overlooking their teammates ahead of the encounter.
“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 had said.
Despite being regarded as underdogs before the tournament, Tabitha insists Malawi are targeting more than a respectable outing in Morocco, with qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup among their ambitions.
“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’ victory over the 10-time African champions has given them a strong start to their maiden WAFCON campaign and boosted their hopes of advancing from Group C.
Malawi will face Egypt on Saturday, with another victory strengthening their chances of moving closer to their World Cup ambition, before they conclude their group campaign against Zambia four days later.
The top four teams at this year’s WAFCON will qualify automatically for the **2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil**, while one additional African nation will have an opportunity to qualify through the intercontinental play-offs, giving Malawi further incentive as they embark on their historic continental campaign.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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