Malawi’s Scorchers lose 3-0 to Cameroon for WAFCON 2026 silver

Malawi’s Scorchers ended their WAFCON 2026 campaign with a 3-0 defeat by Cameroon at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, 16 August. The result left Malawi with silver medals, but also confirmed the country’s first appearance in a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Cameroon settled the final through two goals from Marie Ngah Manga and another by Naomi Eto’o. The result gave Cameroon the title after previous final appearances had ended with three runners-up finishes. Their goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina, played a major role in the success, conceding only once in six matches and receiving the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award.

Malawi’s route to the final had included victories over Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds. The Scorchers beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Algeria 3-1 in the semi-finals. Their group-stage record included wins against Nigeria and Egypt, alongside a defeat by Zambia.

Temwa Chawinga finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner, adding an individual award to Malawi’s landmark team achievement. The Scorchers had entered the competition as debutants but progressed beyond the group stage and secured a place among Africa’s leading women’s teams.

Head coach Lovemore Fazili described the tournament as an important learning experience for the squad. He said the players’ performances made him proud and that the campaign would help Malawi prepare for the 2027 World Cup, while also marking a historic achievement for the team.

The final loss ended Malawi’s title bid, but the team’s overall record produced the country’s best result in the competition. The silver-medal finish has placed women’s football in Malawi on the global stage, with the Scorchers set to return home after a campaign that brought a historic final appearance and World Cup qualification.