Tournament newcomers Malawi are set to face footballing powerhouse Cameroon in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final this Sunday. The historic matchup follows a pair of intense semifinal clashes on Wednesday that saw both winners secure their places in next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Malawi, currently ranked 153rd globally and competing in their first-ever WAFCON, secured a 3-1 victory over Algeria. The match was defined by the performance of Lyon forward Tabitha Chawinga, who netted two goals. Her sister, Temwa Chawinga of the Kansas City Current, also found the back of the net, marking her fifth goal of the tournament.
The semifinal was a volatile affair, beginning with Algeria’s Morgane Belkhiter receiving a red card in the 23rd minute for a foul on Tabitha Chawinga. Ten minutes later, Tabitha opened the scoring with a left-footed strike that hit the crossbar before crossing the line. Temwa extended the lead during first-half stoppage time, skillfully maneuvering around goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi to score. Shortly after, Malawi’s Rose Kadzere was sent off for a challenge on Marine Dafeur, leaving both sides with 10 players for the remainder of the match.
Algeria managed to narrow the deficit to 2-1 through an Ikram Adjabi goal in the 60th minute. However, Tabitha Chawinga sealed the result in the 76th minute by firing a shot between an Algerian defender’s legs, finalizing the 3-1 scoreline.
In the other semifinal, Cameroon overcame Morocco in a tense penalty shootout that ended 3-1 following a scoreless draw. The match, held at Moulay Al Hassan Stadium before a crowd of over 19,000, saw Morocco dominate possession. During the second period of extra time, a video review awarded Morocco a penalty after a foul by Myriam Maéva Nyadjou on Sakina Ouzraouiin, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina successfully blocked Fatima Tagnaout’s attempt.
Bihina proved decisive again in the shootout, stopping three Moroccan attempts. Myriam Maéva Nyadjou ultimately converted the winning penalty to send Cameroon to the final. This success follows Cameroon’s notable 1-0 quarterfinal win over Nigeria, their second victory against the powerhouse in 14 tournament meetings.
The tournament has significant implications for the 2027 World Cup. While Malawi and Algeria are celebrating their first-ever World Cup qualifications, Morocco will be making its second appearance following a round-of-16 finish in 2023. Cameroon, meanwhile, returns to the global stage after previous appearances in 2015 and 2019.
The remaining four quarterfinal losers still maintain a path to the World Cup. On Thursday in Casablanca, Nigeria will face South Africa, while Ghana takes on the Ivory Coast. The winners of those matches will advance to an intercontinental playoff to compete for the final remaining spots.
Cameroon played in the 2015 and 2019 editions.
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