Malawi Stun Ghana 2-1 to Reach WAFCON Semi-Finals and Seal First World Cup Spot

Malawi have done what few expected them to do. The WAFCON debutants defeated Ghana 2-1 in Rabat on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and secure their first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rose Kadzere’s 79th-minute winner completed another remarkable chapter in the Scorchers’ run. Malawi had already topped a difficult Group C and defeated defending champions Nigeria and Egypt before eliminating Ghana in the knockout stage.

For a team appearing at the tournament for the first time, the scale of the achievement is difficult to ignore.

From debutants to World Cup qualifiers

Malawi entered the tournament without the history that surrounds many of Africa’s established women’s football nations. Ghana, by contrast, were chasing a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2007.

But the match showed that experience and reputation only go so far.

Ghana started strongly. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah put the Black Queens ahead after just seven minutes, giving them the early advantage.

Malawi responded almost immediately. Five minutes later, Temwa Chawinga helped bring the Scorchers level, turning what could have become a difficult night into another contest Malawi believed they could win.

The match then became a battle of fine margins.

Ghana had their chances, but Malawi stayed alive

Ghana thought they had regained the lead after Doris Boaduwaa found the net early in the second half. VAR, however, ruled the goal out for offside.

That decision became one of the key moments of the game.

Ghana continued to push, but Malawi’s defence held firm. The Scorchers also remained dangerous on the counter, with the movement of the Chawinga sisters giving them an outlet whenever Ghana committed players forward.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

With 11 minutes of normal time remaining, Kadzere found space inside the penalty area and calmly finished past the Ghana goalkeeper. Malawi were suddenly ahead, and the World Cup was within reach.

Ghana threw players forward in search of an equaliser, but Malawi refused to give up the advantage.

The final whistle confirmed it: 2-1 to Malawi.

The ranking made the story even bigger

Malawi's achievement is particularly striking because the Scorchers were ranked 153rd in the world heading into the tournament, according to the ranking cited around their WAFCON campaign.

That ranking did not tell the full story of what was happening on the pitch.

Malawi topped their group, overcame Nigeria, beat Egypt and then eliminated Ghana. Their progress has not come from a single lucky result. It has been built through a series of performances against established opposition.

The Chawinga sisters have also been central to that rise, with Temwa and Tabitha providing much of Malawi’s attacking threat during their extraordinary campaign.

Ghana's dream is not completely over

For Ghana, the defeat is painful, but it does not end their World Cup hopes.

The Black Queens will now play Côte d’Ivoire in an African play-off. The winner will advance to the FIFA Women's World Cup intercontinental play-offs, giving Ghana another route to Brazil 2027.

That means Ghana still have something to fight for.

Malawi, meanwhile, can enjoy a much bigger prize.

Malawi now face Algeria

The Scorchers are not finished with the WAFCON yet.

They will face Algeria in the semi-finals, with a place in the final at stake. More importantly, they can now approach the rest of the tournament without the pressure of chasing World Cup qualification.

That box has already been ticked.

Malawi came to their first WAFCON looking to make an impression. They leave the quarter-final stage as semi-finalists and World Cup qualifiers.

For the Scorchers, what began as a debut has become one of the tournament’s defining stories.