American sports media conglomerate ESPN has listed France-based Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga and her sister, Temwa, who plays in the US, among 11 players to watch at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco.
Tabitha, who plays for French women’s top-flight league champions Olympique Lyoness, also features on Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) list.
ESPN says she shone for her club and played a big role in her team’s qualification for the 2025/26 Uefa Women’s Champions League final.
in this file photo.
| Courtesy of Tabitha Chawinga
Reads the article: “The elder Chawinga sister [Tabitha] averaged a goal involvement per game [13 goals and five assists in 18 matches] for French champions Lyon in 2025-26. As a playmaker, finisher and leader, she is likely to be influential for Malawi.”
On Temwa, ESPN says: “The KC Current star has, together with [Zambian Barbara] Banda, changed the game for African women’s players in the NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League] with a remarkable strike rate upfront. At her first Wafcon, she could be just as influential for the Malawi Scorchers.”
Other players on the list include reigning African Women Footballer of the Year Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco, Zambia’s Banda and Rachael Kundananji, six-time Africa Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria, South African duo of Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana.
Meanwhile, during a pre-tournament panel talk organised by CAF involving top players, Tabitha said record 10-time champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons remain favourites to win the tournament scheduled from July 26 to August 16.
Reflecting on their Group C opener against Nigeria on July 28, she said the Scorchers will not go into the game thinking they can go toe-to-toe with the defending champions.
Said Tabitha: “We can’t say we will challenge Nigeria. We are all Africans. Maybe, we can say we are challenging them if we go to the Women’s World Cup. Nigeria are still dominating African football.”
Nonetheless, she said they are ready to make their debut at the competition.
“Now it is our turn. We have qualified and we are very happy. We can’t wait to start the games and we will see what we can do. This year will be interesting. People will watch different players,” she added.
On a lighter note, Tabitha, asked Oshoala to spare Scorchers from a heavy defeat when the two sides meet.
“Super Falcons need to calm down. Don’t give us 5-0, please, 1-0 is enough,” said the Scorchers captain in response to Oshoala’s earlier ‘plea’ to the Chawinga sisters to take it easy and not go full throttle.
“Calm down, sisters. You and Temwa need to calm down,” Oshoala said with a smile.
Apart from sharing the group with Nigeria, Malawi will also face Egypt’s Cleopatra on August 1 and Zambia’s Copper Queens four days later.
