Chinzimu relishes success

Malawi midfielder Faith Chinzimu has described their historic qualification and run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as one of the proudest moments of her young career, with the 19-year-old now relishing the opportunity to represent the Scorchers on world stage.

The Scorchers have wasted little time making their mark at the continental tournament, with Malawi stunning record 10-time champions and reigning holders Nigeria 3-2 in their opening game.

The victory gave the debutants belief that they could compete with Africa’s established powers and that anything was possible on their historic journey and they are still within reach of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket.

Chinzimu had scored twice within two minutes against Angola in Lilongwe on October 28, 2025, to secure Malawi’s place at the WAFCON for the first time.

“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,” Chinzimu told CAF Online.

“In that moment I realised 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.”

The midfielder has quickly established herself in Malawi’s senior team and has also had the opportunity to learn from two of the country’s biggest football stars, sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.

“Playing with both Tabitha and Temwa is a huge blessing. I’ve learnt so much about discipline, hard work, and believing in yourself,” she said.

“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.”

Tabitha has enjoyed success in European football, winning the French league with Lyon and the French Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, while Temwa has also made history in the United States, setting a new NWSL single-season scoring record with 20 goals for Kansas City Current and winning the Golden Boot and MVP awards.

Chinzimu now hopes to follow their example and continue raising Malawi’s profile on the global stage.

With the Scorchers making their first appearance at the WAFCON the teenager believes their historic campaign can inspire a new generation of Malawian footballers.

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