Tabitha Chawinga: What WAFCON’s expansion means

Malawi women’s team captain Tabitha Chawinga has explained what the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) expansion means to teams that have never qualified for the finals of the continental football showpiece.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced the expansion of the tournament from 12 to 16 teams, starting from the next WAFCON finals scheduled for Morocco early next year.

Tabitha Chawinga explains why expanded WAFCON means

The increase in the finalists has excited the Lyon ladies star. The 29-year-old told BBC Sport Africa that the expansion of the tournament affords other teams an opportunity to grace the continental finals.

“It means more opportunities and great exposure to both older and upcoming players,” Tabitha is quoted as saying.

“It is a continental platform to bring football dreams alive. I fully intend to captain the Malawi side to claim a spot in the WAFCON competition.”

The 2025 CAF Women’s Player of the Year nominee will try to steer the Scorchers to their maiden WAFCON appearance at the expense of Angola on Thursday.

Malawi came from Luanda with a goalless draw in the WAFCON final qualifying round first leg match on Thursday, and hope to deliver the goods at home, Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Tabitha and her America-based younger sister Temwa are Malawi’s star players hoping to make history by qualifying for the WAFCON finals for the first time.

Second leg fixtures:

Burkina Faso v Togo (Friday)

Benin v Nigeria (Friday)

Kenya v The Gambia (Friday)

Cape Verde v Mali (Friday)

Senegal v Ivory Coast (Friday)

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