Malawi women’s football has earned five nominations for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, with sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, Rose Kabzere, Mercy Sikelo and the Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, recognised for outstanding performances.
Temwa and Tabitha have been nominated for the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, while Kabzere is in contention for the Women’s Young Player of the Year accolade.
Goalkeeper Sikelo has been nominated for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, with the Scorchers also shortlisted for the Women’s National Team of the Year honour. The nominations follow a historic year for Malawi women’s football, highlighted by the Scorchers reaching the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco and qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil for the first time.
Temwa, who plays for Kansas City Current in the United States, enjoyed an outstanding campaign for both club and country.
She played a key role in Malawi’s remarkable WAFCON campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and two assists. Her performances also earned her a place in the tournament’s Best XI.
The forward has continued to shine internationally, becoming the first African woman to finish among the top 10 in the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings. Her elder sister and Scorchers captain, Tabitha, who plays for French side OL Lyonnes, has also been recognised following another impressive year.
Tabitha was instrumental in Malawi’s historic continental campaign, providing leadership and experience as the Scorchers reached their first WAFCON final and secured World Cup qualification. She was also named in the WAFCON Best XI. Young midfielder Kabzere, who plays for French side Montpellier, has earned recognition following her impressive performances for the national team.
She scored the winning goal in Malawi’s 2-1 victory over Ghana in the WAFCON quarterfinals, a result that secured the Scorchers a place in the semifinals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sikelo, who plays for Civil Service Women, has also been rewarded for her contribution between the posts during Malawi’s historic run to the WAFCON final and World Cup qualification.
Meanwhile, the Scorchers’ nomination for Women’s National Team of the Year reflects their remarkable achievements on the continental stage.
Under head coach Lovemore Fazili, Malawi exceeded expectations in their debut WAFCON appearance, reaching the final and securing a historic place at the global showpiece.
The five nominations underline the continued growth of women’s football in Malawi and represent another milestone in the Football Association of Malawi’s football development and transformation agenda. The winners will be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, 7 December 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
