The Malawi Women’s National Football Team have qualified for the 2027 World Cup after claiming a dramatic 2-1 win over Ghana on Sunday evening at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

The Scorchers found themselves behind just seven minutes into the game after Nottingham Forest forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah gave Ghana the lead, but Malawi responded quickly, levelling matters five minutes later through Temwa Chawinga.

The tie remained finely balanced deep into the second half, with Malawi surviving a major scare when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled out what would have been a second goal for Ghana.

With just 11 minute remaining on the clock, the Scorchers snatched the winner. Temwa Chawinga danced past her marker on the right before picking out Rose Kabzere in the penalty box. The midfielder needed just two sweet touches to finish it off — sending Malawi through to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, and into the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in the same moment.

The result marks a landmark achievement for Malawian football on two fronts. The Scorchers have become the first-ever Malawian senior national football team, men’s or women’s, to qualify for a World Cup. They have also become the first-ever WAFCON debutants to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

The achievement is made all the more remarkable by Malawi’s modest standing in the world game — the Scorchers are ranked 33rd in Africa and 153rd globally, yet have now outperformed far more established footballing nations to reach both milestones in their first appearance at the tournament.

Malawi will now turn their attention to a place in the WAFCON final, facing Algeria on Wednesday for a spot in the showpiece match of the 2026 tournament.