# Women’s AFCON semi-finals: Malawi’s attack, Cameroon’s clean sheets

> By bgsvm · Published 2026-08-16 · Updated 2026-09-21
> https://lesportifplus.com/en/2026/08/16/womens-afcon-malawi-stun-algeria-to-reach-first-ever-final-as-morocco-crash-out-on-penalties/

## Summary
Malawi beat Algeria 3–1 while Cameroon overcame Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw. How the two very different paths led to the final.

## Key points
- Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in Rabat to reach their maiden Women's AFCON final
- Sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga starred in Malawi's semifinal win
- Morocco lost to Cameroon on penalties at Moulay Hassan Stadium, exiting the tournament

Malawi reached the 2026 Women’s AFCON final in its first appearance by beating Algeria **3–1** in the semi-finals. In the other tie, Cameroon drew 0–0 with host Morocco before advancing **3–1 on penalties**. The two results set up a final between a debutant with the tournament’s leading attack and a team that had conceded no goal in the knockout rounds.

## How strong was Malawi’s run?

The CAF’s subsequent final report puts Malawi’s total at **12 goals before the final**. Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga were central to its attacking campaign. That figure helps explain why a first-time entrant reached the title match: the semi-final win over Algeria was part of a tournament-long scoring pattern, not a result that can be understood only as an upset. A precise account of individual semi-final goals would require the official score sheet, so this report does not assign them from assumption.

## How did Cameroon eliminate the hosts?

Cameroon had already beaten Nigeria 1–0 in the quarter-finals. A second clean sheet against Morocco carried the semi-final to a shootout, which Cameroon won. Comparing the two ties shows what each finalist had to solve in Rabat: Cameroon needed to stop a prolific attack, while Malawi had to create chances against a defence that had kept consecutive knockout opponents scoreless.

Morocco’s home advantage did not settle the match. Nor does a penalty win prove Cameroon dominated the 120 minutes: the score was goalless before the shootout. It is more accurate to report separately the match result and the shootout score.

## What happened in the final?

Cameroon beat Malawi **3–0 on 16 August**, with all three goals in the first half. The result gave Cameroon its first continental title, while Malawi’s debut run ended as runner-up. See our [final match analysis](https://lesportifplus.com/en/2026/08/17/cameroon-wins-first-ever-womens-afcon-title-after-three-runner-up-finishes/) for the scorers and timings. This updated semi-final report retains the original match focus and records the verified outcome rather than leaving an outdated preview of what might happen next.

## Sources

- [CAF — Cameroon and Malawi road to the final](https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/ngah-brace-fires-cameroon-to-historic-first-wafcon-crown-with-dominant-malawi-victory/) — CAF
- [The Guardian — WAFCON 2026 review](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/19/wafcon-2026-review-glory-for-cameroon-nigeria-flop-and-malawi-cause-a-stir) — The Guardian

## Sources
- [CAF — Cameroon and Malawi road to the final](https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/ngah-brace-fires-cameroon-to-historic-first-wafcon-crown-with-dominant-malawi-victory/)
- [The Guardian — WAFCON 2026 review](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/19/wafcon-2026-review-glory-for-cameroon-nigeria-flop-and-malawi-cause-a-stir)