Malawi have reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and qualified for their first FIFA Women’s World Cup after beating Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Ghana took an early lead through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, but Malawi responded through Temwa Chawinga before Rose Kadzere scored the decisive goal in the second half to complete the comeback.
Malawi secure historic World Cup place
The victory carries significance beyond progression to the WAFCON semi-finals. Under the tournament’s qualification format, the four semi-finalists secure direct places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
That makes Malawi’s win one of the biggest moments in the country’s women’s football history. Reaching the World Cup for the first time marks a major breakthrough for a national team that entered this tournament without the pedigree of some of Africa’s traditional women’s football powers.
Temwa Chawinga, already one of Malawi’s best-known footballers, again played a central role by scoring the equaliser and helping shift the momentum of the match.
Ghana’s tournament ends in the quarter-finals
For Ghana, the defeat ends a campaign in which the Black Queens had progressed from the group stage with hopes of making a deeper run and strengthening their own World Cup prospects.
The early goal gave Ghana control, but Malawi’s response exposed how quickly knockout matches can change once momentum shifts. The Black Queens were unable to recover after Kadzere’s second-half winner.
Ghana’s exit will now turn attention to the team’s next competitive cycle and the broader effort to rebuild the Black Queens into consistent contenders at continental level.
A major moment for Malawi women’s football
Malawi’s qualification will also resonate beyond the national team. A first World Cup appearance can increase visibility for women’s football, attract sponsorship and strengthen the case for greater investment in domestic development structures.
The semi-final now offers Malawi an opportunity to extend an already historic tournament. Whatever happens next, qualification for Brazil 2027 represents a landmark achievement.
Sources
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