Malawi shock the Black Queens, ending Ghana’s hopes of lifting the WAFCON title
Malawi rewrote the script of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, defeating Ghana 2-1 to reach the semi-finals for the first time and seal a historic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
A composed second-half strike from Rose Kadzere delivered the decisive blow for the tournament newcomers. The Scorchers had already produced one of the competition’s biggest surprises by topping Group C after victories over defending champions Nigeria and Egypt. Their continued progress makes them one of only a small number of debutant sides ever to reach the last four of the Women’s AFCON, while also claiming one of Africa’s four direct berths at next year’s global finals.
Ghana’s exit from title contention was a painful setback for a side hoping to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2007. The Black Queens are not yet eliminated from World Cup contention, however. They will meet Côte d’Ivoire in the African play-off, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-offs.
The quarter-final had been widely viewed as one of the more evenly matched fixtures of the knockout stage. Malawi arrived with momentum from their impressive group campaign, while Ghana relied on greater knockout experience under coach Kim Lars Björkegren.
Ghana began brightly. In the seventh minute Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah finished sharply to give the Black Queens an early advantage. The lead lasted only five minutes. Captain and standout forward Temwa Chawinga restored parity in the 12th minute, underlining once more why she ranks among Africa’s most dangerous attackers and sparking loud celebrations from the Malawian contingent.
The equaliser opened the game. Both teams created chances while remaining conscious that a place in the semi-finals and a World Cup ticket were on the line.
After the interval the tempo remained high. Ghana thought they had regained the lead when Doris Boaduwaa found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR check. That decision proved pivotal. Despite the introduction of fresh attacking options in Princella Adubea, Wasila Mohammed and Princess Marfo, Ghana found it difficult to break down a well-organised Malawi defence.
The Scorchers continued to look dangerous on the break, particularly through the movement of the Chawinga sisters. Their pressure finally told in the 79th minute when Rose Kadzere found space inside the area and finished calmly past the Ghana goalkeeper. Malawi held their slender advantage through the closing stages as Ghana committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser that never came.
The result represents another landmark for Malawi’s women’s national team. In their first appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Scorchers have surpassed all expectations by reaching the semi-finals and securing a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Coach Lovemore Fazili had spoken before the match of taking the tournament one step at a time, while captain Tabitha Chawinga highlighted the significance qualification would hold for women’s football in the country. That ambition has now been realised. By overcoming several of the continent’s established sides, Malawi have established themselves as one of Africa’s emerging forces.
Although the Black Queens left the pitch disappointed, their World Cup journey is not over. Under the qualification structure, the four losing quarter-finalists enter an African play-off. The two winners of those matches progress to the intercontinental play-offs and retain a chance of reaching Brazil 2027. Ghana will face Côte d’Ivoire in one of those decisive encounters, knowing a victory would keep alive their hopes of returning to the global stage after nearly two decades.
For Malawi the night belonged solely to the Scorchers. In the space of two remarkable weeks, they have transformed from tournament debutants into World Cup qualifiers, producing one of the most compelling stories in Women’s AFCON history. They now advance to the semi-finals already assured of a place among the continent’s elite.