Chawinga eyes Falcons upset in WAFCON bow

n n

Malawi striker Temwa Chawinga has warned Nigeria to expect a stern test when the Scorchers make their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations debut against the 10-time champions in Rabat on Tuesday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

n

Making their first appearance at the continental showpiece, Malawi have been drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt, and are hoping to begin their campaign with a statement victory over the Super Falcons.

n

“To beat the defending champions would mean a lot to us,” Chawinga said via ESPN.

n

“It’s our first game, so it would boost our morale and give us confidence and motivation to do even better.

n

“Because if you start well by winning your first game, a game against a team like Nigeria, the team starts believing, ‘Okay, we can do this.’”

n

Much of the pre-match spotlight has focused on Chawinga and her elder sister, Tabitha, Malawi’s all-time leading goalscorer. However, the younger Chawinga believes her team’s strength extends beyond the sibling duo and insists Nigeria should not overlook the rest of the squad.

n

“They know me and Tabitha.

n

“But they don’t know our other players or the way we play. If they focus on us, we have other players who can do the job.”

n

Despite being regarded as underdogs, Chawinga said Malawi are targeting more than just a respectable outing in Morocco, revealing that qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is one of the team’s ambitions.

n

“It’s true we might be underdogs, but everyone knows we need to work hard to achieve everything,” she said.

n

“If we could qualify for this tournament, we can go to the World Cup. We’re not just going there to participate. We’re going there to compete.”

n

After facing Nigeria in their opening match, Malawi will take on Egypt on Saturday before concluding their Group C campaign against Zambia four days later.

n

The top four teams at this year’s WAFCON will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while one additional nation will advance through the intercontinental play-offs, giving Malawi added incentive as they embark on their maiden continental campaign.

n n