Who are the Chawinga sisters leading Malawi's bid for Wafcon glory?

What the report says

BBC Sport Africa reports that sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga are central to Malawi’s unexpected progress at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the debutants reached Sunday’s final against Cameroon. Malawi have scored 12 goals in the tournament, and the sisters have accounted for nine of them. Temwa is also among the leading scorers in the competition, underlining how much the team has relied on the pair.

The article traces both players’ rise from modest beginnings in northern Malawi to major clubs abroad. Tabitha, the older sister, began playing in village games with boys and later became the first Malawian woman to play in Europe. Her career has since taken her through Sweden, China, Inter Milan, Paris St-Germain and Lyon. Temwa followed a similar path, also playing in Sweden and China before joining Kansas City Current in the United States, where she was the NWSL’s top scorer and most valuable player in successive seasons.

BBC Sport Africa says the sisters have long been important figures for Malawi’s national team, with Tabitha usually captaining the side and Temwa leading them to their first regional title in 2023. Their influence helped Malawi upset stronger opponents at Wafcon, including Nigeria and Ghana, and secure a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup via their quarter-final win over Ghana. The story adds that both players have urged greater investment in girls’ football in Malawi, arguing that more support could produce more players like them.