In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, led Malawi to a stunning 3-2 victory against the defending champions Nigeria in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group C clash held in Morocco on Tuesday. This match has been hailed as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament, which has been running for 28 years. Temwa, who showcases her talent with the US club Kansas City Current, contributed significantly to this historic win by scoring twice, while her sister Tabitha, representing the French club Lyon, added another goal to seal the shocking defeat of the heavily favored Nigerian team.
The match was notable not only for its scoreline but also for the stark contrast in world rankings between the two teams. Nigeria holds the highest ranking among the 16 participating teams at 36, whereas Malawi sits at the bottom with a ranking of 153, illustrating a staggering gap of 117 places. Despite their underdog status, Malawi's women’s national soccer team showcased remarkable resilience and tenacity throughout the match.
Having qualified for all previous 13 WAFCON tournaments and securing victory in 10 of them, Nigeria has a storied history in the competition, including their recent win in the final against Morocco. In contrast, this tournament marks Malawi's inaugural appearance, making their victory all the more significant. The game commenced with a tense first half that ended in a stalemate, but the dynamics shifted dramatically after the break.
The turning point came in the 73rd minute when Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock by deftly maneuvering past Nigeria’s long-serving goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in Africa. Temwa’s audacious strike from a difficult angle set the stage for what was to unfold. Just six minutes later, her sister Tabitha made her mark by outpacing Nnadozie, sliding the ball into the net and doubling Malawi's lead.
As the match drew to a close, the referee added nine minutes of stoppage time, a common occurrence in this year’s tournament due to various injuries. During this tense period, Nigeria managed to reduce the deficit with a penalty converted by their captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, after a handball was called. However, Malawi quickly responded, with Temwa Chawinga once again showcasing her skill by lobbing the ball over Nnadozie into the net, restoring their two-goal advantage.
Though Nigeria had a final opportunity to equalize in the dying moments of the game, Malawi’s goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo managed to deflect a shot from Uchenna Kanu, preventing it from crossing the line before the final whistle blew. This victory places Malawi second in Group C, tied on points with neighboring Zambia, but trailing on goal difference. Earlier on the same day, Zambia had delivered a dominant performance against Egypt, winning 6-0, with Barbra Banda scoring four goals. Looking ahead, both Malawi and Zambia will face Egypt and Nigeria respectively in the upcoming matches, with a chance to secure their spots in the quarter-finals.
As reported by taipeitimes.com.
