Malawi Women’s National Fotball Team, the Scorchers last evening made a dream debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco with a sensational 2-3 victory over defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
Ranked 153 by Fifa, well below the 10-time African champions who are 36th, the Scorchers entered the match as clear underdogs.
However, they matched their illustrious opponents stride for stride and produced a fearless display, spearheaded by Chawinga sisters US-based Kansas City Current forward Temwa and Tabitha who plays for Lyon in France.
After a tightly contested first-half ended goalless, Temwa finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute.
Racing onto a perfectly timed pass, she rounded the Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie before calmly tapping the ball into an empty net.
The celebrations were briefly put on hold as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) conducted a lengthy offside check that lasted almost two minutes.
When the goal was confirmed, jubilant scenes erupted among the Malawi supporters, including members of the Football Association of Malawi executive committee members and other officials in attendance.
Seven minutes later, Tabitha doubled Malawi’s advantage with a thunderous strike that left Nnadozie with no chance.
Nigeria pulled one back through Rasheedat Ajibade from the penalty spot after Benadetta Mkandawire handled inside the Malawi box, setting up a tense finale.
But Temwa restored the Scorchers’ two-goal cushion in the 90th minute, showing remarkable composure to delicately lift the ball over the advancing Nnadozie for her second goal of the night.
The defending champions were not finished, however, and grabbed another goal from substitute Uchenna Kanu with virtually the last kick of the match.
It proved too little, too late as Malawi held on for a famous victory that sent shockwaves across the tournament.
The result leaves Malawi second in Group C behind neighbours Zambia, who thrashed Egypt 6-0 earlier in the day.
The Scorchers will return to action against Egypt on Saturday while Zambia face Nigeria in another crucial Group C encounter.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
