Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga scored her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory over 10-time champions Nigeria on Tuesday.
Malawi's win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential. The victory is a significant milestone for the Malawi team, who are competing in the expanded WAFCON tournament.
"We are going to WAFCON to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before the tournament. "Of course it's challenging, but the way I am now I gained a lot of experience. The way my sister is (in France), she also has a lot of experience. Faith (Chinzimu) has a lot of experience now, so we're not just going there to give respect to the teams. We can think like we're underdogs, but we're just going there to show up like we can do it. We can do better like the big teams like Nigeria and Zambia."
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, is one of several African players who have followed the path of professional football overseas. The 28-year-old forward has been instrumental in helping her national teammates, including 19-year-old forward Faith Chinzimu, who plays professionally in Sweden.
Many of the 16 teams competing in the WAFCON tournament are brimming with undiscovered talent. Chawinga recognizes a hunger in Chinzimu, who played all 90 minutes of Malawi's match against Nigeria. "She's so hardworking," Chawinga said of Chinzimu. "When she was playing in Malawi, she asked me, 'How can I do like you? How can I play professionally? How's the life?' I explained to her: just go. Don't think much about home, because we have some problems at home. You just go there to work, like, find something to feed (people at) home."
Chawinga's own journey to professional football began in Malawi, where she played for local clubs before signing with clubs outside of Africa. She now plays for the Kansas City Current in the NWSL, where she has become one of the top scorers in the league.
Malawi's victory over Nigeria is a significant step towards qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The four WAFCON semifinalists are guaranteed a ticket to the World Cup, while the four teams that lose in the quarterfinals will compete against each other in a FIFA Playoff Tournament in November.
As the WAFCON tournament continues, Chawinga and her teammates will be looking to make the most of their opportunity to compete against the best teams in Africa. For Chawinga, the tournament is not just about competing, but also about helping her teammates to follow in her footsteps and play professional football overseas.
The next match for Malawi will be against Zambia on July 31, a crucial encounter that will determine their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Source: Yahoo Sports