WAFCON 2026: Five records Malawi shattered in historic Super Falcons upset

Malawi produced one of the greatest upsets in Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history after defeating defending champions Nigeria 3-2 in their Group C opener in Rabat, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Scorchers, making their tournament debut, stunned the ten-time African champions thanks to a sensational display inspired by sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, who both found the net to hand Malawi a famous victory.

Nigeria entered the match as overwhelming favourites. CAF’s pre-match statistics highlighted that the Super Falcons had never lost to a WAFCON debutant, boasting 16 wins and one draw from their previous 17 matches against first-time participants. Instead, Malawi rewrote history.

Five major records Malawi broke in Super Falcons’ win

1. Ended Nigeria’s unbeaten record against WAFCON debutants

Perhaps the biggest record to fall was Nigeria’s extraordinary dominance over tournament newcomers.

Before kick-off, the Green and Whites had never lost to a debutant nation at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Their record stood at 16 victories and one draw dating back to 1998.

Malawi became the first debutant ever to defeat Nigeria at the tournament, ending a sequence that had lasted nearly three decades.

2. Registered Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON victory

Every tournament debut comes with the hope of making history, but few could have imagined Malawi would do so against Africa’s most decorated side.

The victory was the Scorchers’ first-ever win at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, instantly becoming the greatest result in the country’s women’s football history.

Rather than easing themselves into the competition, they announced themselves by beating the reigning champions.

FULL-TIME! 🇳🇬🇲🇼

Malawi get their first-ever win. #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/GiWOkjnjZj

— CAF Women Football (@CAFwomen) July 28, 2026

3. Scored Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON goals

Fazili’s side also celebrated another historic milestone through the Chawinga sisters.

Temwa Chawinga opened the scoring in the 73rd minute after latching onto a long ball before calmly beating Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Just six minutes later, captain Tabitha Chawinga doubled the lead with another composed finish, before Temwa grabbed her second deep into stoppage time.

Those strikes were Malawi’s first-ever goals at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final, making the sisters part of the country’s football folklore.

4. Became the first debutants to score three goals against Nigeria

Before last night’s encounter, no debutant had scored three goals against the record Champions at the WAFCON finals.

Malawi shattered that benchmark with an impressive attacking display, exploiting Nigeria’s high defensive line through direct balls over the top.

Temwa’s brace and Tabitha’s strike exposed defensive frailties that had rarely been seen from the record champions.

5. Handed Nigeria another opening-match setback

Although Nigeria have previously lost opening matches at the tournament, defeats have been extremely rare.

Justine Madugu’s side had suffered only two opening-game defeats before Morocco 2026, both against South Africa in 2018 and 2022.

Malawi became just the third team to beat Nigeria in their opening fixture and, remarkably, the first nation outside South Africa to do so.

For Justine Madugu’s side, it also continued an unwanted trend. Nigeria have now lost their opening match in three of the last four WAFCON tournaments in which they entered as defending champions.

The bigger picture

While Lovemore Fazili’s side celebrated a famous night that transformed their football history, Nigeria now face enormous pressure heading into their second Group C fixture against Zambia.

With FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification also at stake, Nigeria cannot afford another slip-up.

For Malawi, however, the victory has already secured a permanent place in African football history.