By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
DEBUTANTE WAFCON mesmerising electric shockers named Scorchers of Malawi Wednesday at the Stade Olympic in Rabat Morocco added the Fennecs of Algeria to teams they applied the shock treatment to in a 3-1 win to qualify for the grand finale on their first time at the tournament.
The Chawinga sisters were the fronts Malawi used to ease out the Algerian ladies as Temwa got a pass from Asimeye Simwaka to score the opener in the 33rd minute which is the 5th goal of Temwa in the tournament now equal to top scorer Barbra Banda of Zambia on 5 goals.
Her sister, Tabitha Chawinga scored the 2nd goal in the 45+1 minute through Chinzimu assist and got her brace the 3rd goal for Malawi in the 76th minute bringing her goals haul to four in the tournament. Adjabi Ikram scored the only goal for Algeria in the 60th minute.
Ref Yemisi Akintoye of Nigeria had issued two red cards to two ‘bad girls’, Belkhiter of Algeria in the 23rd minute and now becoming notorious, Rose Kadzere of Malawi in the 45+8 minute. Rose became the first girl to get two red cards in this tournament as she got one at the group C game against Burkina Faso. Rose is waving the WAFCON 2026 tournament bye bye as she will miss the grand finale encounter. Ref Yemisi also gave separate 2 yellow cards to Malawi.
Algeria was allowed to do all the playing with 23-17 shots at goal 9-7 on target; stringing 395-258 passes while ball possessions was 60-40% but Malawi wanted the goals with 5-1 corner kicks advantage.
The North Africans in Algeria had two countries to contend with from the stands as the Zambians stood with their neighbours Malawi as shown in the cover photo.
To get to the semifinals, Algeria had beaten Ivory Coast 2-1, canned Kenya 2-0, lost to Morocco by a lone goal before dismissing Senegal 2-0. Malawi shocked Defending champions Nigeria 2-3, shocked Egypt 3-1, lost to Zambia 0-1 and shocked Black Queens of Ghana 2-1 at the quarterfinal.
Both countries only met once in a friendly of 5th February 2016 and it ended 2-2. Algeria ranked 74 is in their 7th appearances with a quarterfinal best in 2024 whereas Malawi ranked 153 is coming to the party for the first time.
The 2nd semifinal between hosts Morocco and Cameroon in the Lionesses brawl starts at 9pm tonight. Malawi will meet the winner of that match in the final on 16th August at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat at 8pm after Algeria would have met the loser for the Bronze medal on 15th August at the Rabat Olympic Stadium at 6pm.
CAF play-off matches will take place tomorrow Thursday 13th August when Ghana will face Ivory Coast at the Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca at 6pm and ousted former champions, Falcons of Nigeria will play a redemption match against Bayana Bayana of South Africa in Moulay Rachid Stadium Casablanca at 9pm. The two winners will advance to play inter Confederation Playoffs later to now qualify to fly their flags in Brazil next year.
#FIFA #CAF #WAFCON2026
#COSAFA #CECAFA #UNIFFAC
#WAFU #FAM #AFF #RMFF
#FECAFOOT #NFF #SAFA.
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