Malawi pulled off one of the greatest upsets in African football history, stunning defending champions Nigeria 3-2 in their Group C opener to top the group alongside Zambia on matchday one.
Malawi pulled off one of the greatest upsets in African football history by stunning defending champions Nigeria 3–2 in their Group C opening match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The historic fixture concluded tonight, July 28, 2026, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, leaving the debutants at the top of the group table alongside Zambia.
Following a tense, scoreless first half, the lethal Chawinga sisters completely dismantled the Nigerian defense on rapid transition breaks to secure the three points. Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga combined to devastating effect, exploiting space left by Nigeria’s attacking push to score three massive goals.
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Nigeria pushed heavily for an opening goal in the first half but was consistently frustrated by Malawi’s rigid backline. The Super Falcons registered 15 shots, four on target, while Malawi managed 12 shots, seven on target. Malawi completed 114 accurate passes to Nigeria’s 285, relying on counter-attacking efficiency.
This marks Malawi’s first-ever appearance at the WAFCON finals stage. By beating the 10-time champions, they broke Nigeria’s flawless 17-match historic undefeated streak against tournament debutants.
The game shifted into an incredibly physical battle in the final 30 minutes. Malawi committed 21 heavy defensive interventions to preserve their lead, resulting in two yellow cards during injury time to halt tactical fouls.
Malawi’s historic victory puts them level on three points with Zambia at the top of Group C, while defending champions Nigeria face an uphill battle to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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