Reviewed by Peter KanjereMalawi sports betting writer
Published 19 August 2026
The Scorchers flew home on Wednesday 19 August after losing the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final 3 to 0 to Cameroon, ending a run that has taken Malawi to a first World Cup and produced the tournament’s leading scorer.
Lovemore Fazili’s side went out of the final in Rabat on Sunday 16 August without ever settling, but the result does not define the three weeks that preceded it. Malawi beat Nigeria 3 to 2 and Egypt 3 to 1 in the group, losing only to Zambia, 2 to 1, then knocked out Ghana 2 to 1 in the quarter final and Algeria 3 to 1 in the semi final. It is the first WAFCON final in the country’s history.
The quarter final is the one that will be remembered longest. Beating Ghana took Malawi into the semi finals, and because Africa’s four direct places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil go to the four semi finalists, that win was the moment qualification was mathematically secured. It is the first time the country has reached a senior World Cup in any code of football. Temwa Chawinga finished as joint top scorer on five goals, taking the Golden Boot on her two assists ahead of Barbra Banda, Ines Konan and Marie Ngah Manga, and carrying it back to a country that has spent years exporting players without much continental return.
The practical questions now are about money and preparation rather than glory. A World Cup cycle costs more than a WAFCON campaign, and Malawi will need friendlies against opposition it rarely gets to face. CAF has published the prize structure for this edition: 750,000 US dollars for the runners up, on top of the 150,000 US dollars paid to each of the sixteen finalists, out of a record fund of 5.8 million. Separate player bonus figures circulating in the local press remain unconfirmed by the Football Association of Malawi, which has published nothing on the final, so AXN Sports is not repeating those until someone puts a signature to a number.
Where to bet: Malawian punters following the Scorchers to Brazil will find outright and qualifying markets in kwacha at Premier Bet, licensed by the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority, alongside the usual match result, over and under and correct score on the domestic league. Deposits go through Airtel Money and Mpamba. World Cup outrights posted this far out move a lot, so treat early prices as a guide rather than a signal. Our guide to the best betting sites in Malawi covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in Malawi soccer news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
