France-based Malawi Women’s National Football Team captain Tabitha Chawinga has said the prize money on offer at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) is an extra motivation for the Scorchers.
The winner of the tournament will cart home $1 million (about K1.75 billion.
The Scorchers are also assured of $125 000 (about K218 million) which is the least prize to be given to teams that will finish bottom in the group stage.
Scorchers training session.. | Courtesy of FAM
In an interview yesterday, the France-based Olympic Lyonnais forward said while the ultimate goal is to fight for the cause of the nation, “the prize money is tempting and offers an extra motivation”.
She said: “Prize money helps to create a competitive spirit and it will definitely drive us to give out our best shot. It is my prayer that we should go past the group stage money or no money. With self-belief and determination, anything is possible.”
The Scorchers will be making their debut appearance at the continental showpiece which will run from July 26 to August 16 in Morocco.
Malawi are in Group C alongside defending champions and record 10-time winners Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Zambia’s Copper Queens and Egypt’s Cleopatra.
The top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and during a recent exclusive interview with Zodiak Television, Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya said the target is to finish among the top four so that they qualify for the global showpiece.
The Wafcon runners-up will get $500 000 (about K876 million), the third best team will pocket $350 000 (about K612 million with the fourth-placed side receiving K$300 000 (about K525.3 million).
Teams that will bow out in the quarter-finals will get $200 000 (about K350.2 million) while teams that will finish second from the bottom in group stage will get $150 000 (about K262.6 million.
