First WAFCON Final Beckons for Malawi as They Face Algeria in the Semis
Malawi are 90 minutes away from an unprecedented Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final appearance as they take on Algeria in the last four of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON in Morocco 2026 on Wednesday.
The semi-final at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium presents another major test for the tournament debutants, who have already secured their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
A victory would make Malawi the first WAFCON debutants since Zimbabwe in 2000 to reach the final. No debutant has achieved that feat since the tournament adopted its current format in 1998.
The She-Flames booked their semi-final place with a 2-1 comeback win over Ghana. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah gave Ghana an early advantage, but Temwa Chawinga responded five minutes later before Rose Kadzere completed the turnaround in the 79th minute.
Chawinga has emerged as one of the standout performers of the competition. She has scored four goals and supplied two assists, giving her six goal involvements, level with Zambia’s Barbra Banda.
Algeria Offer a Different Challenge
Algeria will enter the contest with their own historic target after reaching the semi-finals for the first time. They overturned an early deficit to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in their quarter-final, with Inès Khiri and Amira Ould Braham scoring in the second half.
The North Africans have conceded just twice in four matches, giving them one of the tournament’s strongest defensive records. They have also scored six goals, their best-ever return at a single WAFCON.
For Algeria, reaching the final would make them only the second North African nation to achieve the feat after Morocco. They have already qualified for their first Women’s World Cup.
Malawi’s attacking numbers, however, give them reason for optimism. They have scored nine goals, more than any of the four semi-finalists, although their defensive record remains a concern after conceding in every match.
Wednesday’s contest will also be the first WAFCON meeting between the two countries, leaving little historical evidence to suggest which side holds the advantage.
The winner will face either Morocco or Cameroon in the final, with neither of the four remaining teams having previously won the tournament.
For Malawi, the occasion represents more than a semi-final. It is a chance to turn a remarkable debut campaign into one of the greatest stories in WAFCON history.