Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga have become the Scorchers’ leading figures, spearheading a generation that is taking the country to heights its national team had never previously reached.

In Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON appearance, both have been decisive in transforming a historic debut into a campaign that has already earned a special place in the football history of both the country and the continent.

Tabitha and Temwa, Two International Careers

Tabitha, the older of the two, currently plays for OL Lyonnes, one of the biggest clubs in European women’s football. Her career has taken her through several international leagues before establishing herself among the continent’s elite.

Temwa, meanwhile, has become one of the biggest stars in American women’s football with Kansas City Current. Since arriving in the NWSL in 2024, her impact has been immediate: she was named league MVP in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons. She also claimed the Golden Boot in both campaigns.

Temwa, a Record-Breaking Goalscorer

In her first season in the United States, she scored 20 goals during the regular season, setting what was then the NWSL record for goals in a single campaign.

Her performances prompted Kansas City Current to secure her future with a contract running through 2029. In addition, she earned her first nomination for the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2025.

For Malawi, Temwa made her international debut at the age of 18 and scored her first goal for the national team in 2016. She also won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the 2023 COSAFA Cup, scoring nine goals in the tournament.

A Surname Linked to Malawi’s Greatest Moment

In the semifinal against Algeria, the sisters were directly involved in all three goals of the 3-1 victory: Tabitha scored twice, while Temwa added another goal.

That performance saw Malawi, in its first appearance at the continental tournament, reach its first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final and secure direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Beyond what they achieved in a single match, Tabitha and Temwa represent the growth of a national team that has found in two sisters the figures capable of taking Malawi to a whole new level.