Malawi have taken the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 by storm.
The Scorchers are competing at the continental tournament for the first time since the competition was created in 1998. They have already shown that they are not in Morocco just to make up the numbers.
Their biggest statement came in the opening match when they stunned record 10-time winners and reigning champions Nigeria with a dramatic 3-2 victory.
That historic result gave Malawi belief that anything is possible.
At the heart of their exciting campaign is 19-year-old midfielder Faith Chinzimu, a young player who has already established herself as an important member of the senior national team.
For Chinzimu, this is the kind of stage she dreamed about while growing up in Lilongwe.
From Playing With Boys to Representing Malawi
Born in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Chinzimu started playing football at a very young age.
Like many young footballers, her journey began in the streets and at school, where she played with boys simply because she loved the game.
“I started playing football when I was young, just playing with boys in the streets and at school because I loved the game. Football gave me joy and purpose. As I grew up, I got more serious and joined teams,” Chinzimu recollects on her journey to the big leagues.
Her talent quickly became difficult to ignore.
At just 15, she received a call-up to Malawi’s Junior Scorchers team for the 2022 COSAFA U17 Women’s Championship in Lilongwe.
Playing for her country on home soil gave the young midfielder an opportunity to announce herself.
And she did exactly that.
A Remarkable Seven Goals in Four Games
Chinzimu enjoyed a spectacular tournament at the 2022 COSAFA U17 Women’s Championship.
She scored four goals in just 33 minutes against Namibia as Malawi scored 12 goals in the group-stage match.
She followed that performance with a hat-trick against Botswana in a 9-0 victory.
By the end of the competition, Chinzimu had scored seven goals in four matches.
For a teenager making her first appearance at an international tournament, it was an outstanding introduction.
“It was the first time I wore the national team colours. It was very special because it was at home, with our people supporting us. Scoring a hattrick against Botswana in that 9-0 win felt amazing. Hearing the crowd cheer for us gave me so much confidence. It made me believe I could do more for Malawi. That tournament taught me what it means to play for my country,” Chinzimu remembers.
Her performances also highlighted the quality of a young Malawi team.
Rose Kadzere finished the tournament with eight goals, one more than Chinzimu, suggesting that the country had a promising generation coming through.
Chinzimu, however, knew that her journey would require patience and hard work.
“My journey hasn’t been easy, but my passion and my family’s support kept me going. I play because I want to represent Malawi and make my country proud.”
Chinzimu Earns Her Place With the Senior Team
After her impressive performances at junior level, Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili gave Chinzimu an opportunity with the senior national team.
She made her senior debut in August 2023.
She was only 16 years old.
“My senior national team debut was in August 2023. It was a very proud moment for me and my family. Wearing the Malawi jersey for the first time with the Scorchers was a dream come true,” Chinzimu recounts.
Her development continued at club level.
With Ascent Soccer Academy, she gained valuable experience in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers.
The tournament was played in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital, giving Chinzimu another opportunity to perform in front of home supporters.
She made an immediate impact.
Fastest Goal of the Tournament
Chinzimu scored the fastest goal at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers.
She found the net in the second minute of her first match against Young Buffaloes of Eswatini.
Her goal helped Ascent Soccer Academy secure a 2-1 victory.
She scored again against eventual finalists Gaborone United, although Ascent Soccer Academy eventually lost that match 3-2 and finished bottom of Group B.
Despite the result, the experience gave Chinzimu more exposure to regional club football.
Two months later, she scored her first senior international goal.
She found the net against Botswana in a 1-1 draw at the 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha, South Africa.
It was another important step in her development.
The Two Goals That Sent Malawi to WAFCON 2026
Chinzimu’s biggest international moment came during Malawi’s qualification campaign for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
After Congo withdrew from the first round of the qualifiers, Malawi received automatic progression to the second round.
The Scorchers then faced Angola.
The first leg in Luanda ended goalless, leaving the qualification battle wide open.
Everything came down to the return match in Lilongwe.
Chinzimu delivered when Malawi needed her most.
She scored twice in two minutes to secure Malawi’s place at the WAFCON.
The historic moment came on October 28, 2025.
For Malawi women’s football, it was a day to remember.
“After that game I felt so much joy and pride. I thought about my family, my coaches, and all the people who supported me. Qualifying for WAFCON was a dream we worked so hard for as a team. In that moment I realized we had made history and that we were putting Malawi women’s football on the map. I was just grateful to God and to my teammates.”
Malawi Shock Nigeria
The Scorchers then arrived at WAFCON 2026 with a chance to make even more history.
Few expected them to immediately defeat Nigeria, one of the most successful teams in African women’s football.
But Malawi produced a stunning 3-2 victory over the defending champions.
The result sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament.
Malawi were not simply happy to be at their first WAFCON.
They wanted to compete.
For Chinzimu, the tournament now represents an opportunity to take Malawi women’s football to another level.
A World Cup Place Is Within Reach
Malawi’s historic WAFCON campaign has also opened the door to an even bigger achievement.
A place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is now within their reach.
The Scorchers face Ghana in the quarter-final, with a place in the semi-finals and a potential World Cup qualification opportunity at stake.
For Chinzimu, qualifying for the World Cup would mean far more than personal success.
“It would mean everything. For me, for the team, and for every young girl in Malawi who dreams of playing football. Qualifying for the World Cup would show the world that Malawian women can compete at the highest level. It would inspire the next generation and prove that all our hard work is worth it. We’re carrying the hopes of the whole country, and we want to make Malawi proud,” Chinzimu says emphatically.
Learning From the Chawinga Sisters
Chinzimu is also fortunate to share the Malawi team with two of the country’s biggest football stars, sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.
Both players have enjoyed successful careers at club level and have become important figures in the growth of women’s football in Malawi.
Chinzimu says playing alongside both sisters has been a major learning experience.
“Playing with both Tabitha and Temwa is a huge blessing. I’ve learnt so much about discipline, hard work, and believing in yourself. They always tell me to stay focused, work hard in training, and never be afraid to take chances. They lead by example. They show us that if you come from Malawi, you can still reach the top. They push me to be better every day.”
Their presence gives the younger players in the squad an example of what is possible.
It also connects Malawi’s emerging generation with two players who have already made their mark on the international stage.
Chinzimu Continues the Journey in Sweden
Chinzimu is currently developing her career in Sweden with BK Häcken.
The move gives the young midfielder the opportunity to play in a competitive European environment and continue improving her game.
Interestingly, Sweden is also familiar territory for the Chawinga sisters, who developed their careers there with Kvarnsvedens IK.
For Chinzimu, playing abroad is another important part of her journey.
Her goal is not only to succeed at club level but also to use her experience to contribute to Malawi’s national team.
A Young Player With a Big Dream
At only 19, Faith Chinzimu has already experienced moments that many young footballers can only dream about.
She has represented Malawi at junior and senior levels, scored important international goals, helped her country qualify for its first WAFCON appearance and played a key role in one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 tournament.
But Chinzimu is not satisfied.
She now wants to help Malawi reach the WAFCON semi-finals and secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Her story is also about the growth of women’s football in Malawi.
From playing football with boys on the streets of Lilongwe to scoring crucial goals for the national team, Chinzimu’s journey shows what determination, talent and support can achieve.
The next chapter could be even bigger.
If Malawi can overcome Ghana, Chinzimu and her teammates will move one step closer to making history again.
For a player who once dreamed of simply wearing the Malawi jersey, the possibility of taking her country to the Women’s World Cup is now within reach.
