'This is our time' - Tabitha Chawinga celebrates Malawi's historic debut against Nigeria
Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga hailed her side’s stunning 3-2 victory over Nigeria as the realization of a long-held dream, describing the triumph as a defining moment for the Scorchers at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The victory marked one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history as tournament debutants Malawi stunned the nine-time African champions to announce their arrival on the continental stage.
Speaking after the memorable win, the 31-year-old revealed that she and her sister had long dreamed of representing Malawi at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and were determined to seize the opportunity after finally qualifying for the competition.
“And now that me and my sister, this is our time. We have been waiting for the Africa Cup of Nations for a long time. We didn’t qualify before, but this is our chance,” Chawinga said.
The 2019 CAF Women’s Player of the Year finalist singled out her sister for special praise, describing her as the team’s driving force during the encounter.
“She is my superstar, actually. She was everywhere. We just put the ball for her and she ran. It was very important for us. We encouraged everyone to work hard, and they did it.”
The Lyon forward also reflected on fulfilling another personal ambition after previously achieving her dream of playing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“My dream is coming true. I’m really happy. I’m proud of the girls, I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of my sister. Thanks to our supporters from Malawi. They have always supported us and given us encouragement.”
Malawi’s victory gives the Scorchers a dream start to their WAFCON campaign while reinforcing their status as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
The Southern Africans will take on bottom placed Egypt in their next encounter on Saturday as they seek to improve their chance of reaching the knockout stage.
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