Malawi have announced themselves on the international stage in emphatic fashion after defeating 10-time champions and reigning holders Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match.
The victory, Malawi’s first appearance at the tournament, confirmed they are capable of competing among Africa’s elite. Both sisters, prolific forwards Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, scored in the historic success over the Super Falcons on Tuesday, 28 July.
Their progress may have surprised some observers, but Temwa has long believed Malawi possessed the ability to reach a major tournament and make an impact.
Just over a year ago, before Malawi’s place in the competition had been confirmed, the 27-year-old spoke confidently about the country’s emerging talent.
“We are playing and fighting, putting the effort in and showing our teammates in Malawi that we should work hard. It’s very important for us,” she told Olympics.com in a previous interview.
“We have a lot of talent and [up and coming] players. I think we’re building a good national team in Malawi.”
That confidence has been shaped by years of overcoming obstacles alongside her older sister. The Chawingas were repeatedly told that football was not for them, yet they continued to pursue the game in a country where there were no established pathways for girls.
As children, they trained and played with boys. Their commitment sometimes brought punishment or disapproval, but neither sister abandoned the ambition of becoming a footballer.
When one left Malawi to continue her career abroad, the other followed soon afterwards. They have supported each other while playing on opposite sides of the world and have also shared the pitch when representing their country.
“It has not been easy to get to where we are today,” Tabitha told Forbes Africa. “Of course, we had to work hard ourselves and we have gained experience and knowledge from playing all over the world.”
Their journey has now taken the Chawinga family name onto the global stage, while their goals are helping to raise Malawi’s profile. Their performance against Nigeria provided a result that matched the attention it received.
With a place at a maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake, the sisters and their team-mates have an opportunity to take Malawi further than ever before.
A bond built on football
For much of their childhood, Tabitha and Temwa were the main source of encouragement for one another. In rural Malawi, girls playing football was not widely accepted by the wider community or, at times, by their own family.
That made Tabitha’s role as the older sister particularly significant. She wanted Temwa to see that a future in football was possible.
“As an older sister I did everything possible to ensure my little sister is not only good but the best,” she told The Guardian. “I opened doors, broke barriers, and carried her under my wing. I am super proud of Temwa.”
Temwa had no television screens showing women’s football to inspire her as a young player, so she looked to Tabitha and followed her example. Their relationship helped create the belief that has carried both players through their careers.
“Tabitha always told me that I would be better than her. She supported me in every single move that I have made,” Temwa said in the same interview. “We never argued about soccer. I always listened to her.
“It means a lot to me, a lot to Malawi, that we are there now [at WAFCON]. It is not just about me and Tabitha, because we have a lot of talent. We are going there to achieve something.”
Their partnership is now part of a wider transformation in Malawi. The sisters who once depended largely on each other have become leading figures in a national team creating new possibilities for girls in their homeland.
More than two star players
Despite the attention they receive for their form in front of goal, both Chawingas have stressed that Malawi’s progress is built on collective effort rather than individual performances.
“They know me and Tabitha, but they don’t know our other players or the way we played,” Temwa told ESPN. “If they focus on us, we have other players that can do the job.”
Tabitha has made the same point, emphasising the contribution required from every member of the side.
“It is 11 vs 11. On our own, we cannot do anything. We have a goalkeeper, a defence, midfielders, and I am a striker. Everybody has to do their job well, that is how you win.
“It is all about teamwork. We also need a great team spirit and the belief that we can win.”
That collective mentality has been central to Malawi’s development as a football nation. It has helped deliver historic achievements and now has the team pursuing a place at the biggest tournament in the women’s game.
The Chawingas also see the tournament as a platform for players who remain at home to attract opportunities abroad.
“It’s an opportunity for young girls from Malawi to show their skills, so they can go to another country, like European countries, to play there,” Temwa added to ESPN.
“We have a lot of players, good players, who are playing locally back home, so this tournament will show that we can do it.”
Malawi’s players are not approaching the competition simply as underdogs grateful to be involved. Their victory over Nigeria has shown that they intend to compete, and the Chawinga sisters believe the team has the talent, unity and conviction to keep winning.
