* Lyna James Chisomo Banda and Tendai Sani also strengthened the squad after being dropped from the initial travelling squad
* Along with her sister Tabitha, Temwa is in ESPN’s 11-star list of players to watch at the WAFCON 2026 including Zambia’s Barbra Banda
By Duncan Mlanjira
Temwa Chawinga, who was Kansas City’s ‘Royalty Ambassador’ during the FIFA World Cup™ 2026, has now joined Malawi Scorchers’ squad in Morocco ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) 2026 scheduled for July 26 to 16 August.
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Playing for Kansas City (KC) Current in the US Women’s National Soccer League (NWSL), who basked in the prestige of attending a FIFA World Cup on the pitch — had the privilege of greeting Argentina and world football legend Lionel Messi.
Kansas was one of USA’s host cities and Temwa was chosen as local ‘KC Royalty’ ambassador to deliver to the match officials the tossing coin before Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria.
She thus strengthens the Scorchers’ squad along with three others, Lynn James (Nyasa Big Bullets Women), Chisomo Banda (Konkola Blades Queens, Zambia) and Tendai Sani (ZISD, Zambia), who were recalled after being dropped from the initial travelling squad.
The Scorchers — who lost 1-3 to Morocco in Rabat in a friendly games last Thursday and will face Ghana in Mohammedia this Thursday, July 23 — open their maiden appearance against 10-time champions, Nigeria on July 28 at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
It will be followed by Egypt on August 1 at Moulay Hassan Stadium and concluding the group stage against neighbours and regional rivals Zambia on August 5 at Al Madina Stadium.
Easy Sunday for the Scorchers in Morocco
Along with her sister Tabitha, the Scorchers captain, Temwa is in ESPN’s 11-star list of players to watch at the WAFCON 2026, including Zambia’s Barbra Banda, who also play in the US NWSL for Orlando Pride.
“As the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations approaches, swiftly on the heels of the FIFA World Cup, we can recommend some players to keep an eye on,” reports ESPN.
Temwa Chawinga and Zambia’s Barbra Banda are two of the NWSL’s premier goalscorers
The United States’ top flight, the NSWL, features some of Africa’s, if not the world’s, best players in Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga and Gift Monday [of Nigeria] and all will be in action in Morocco.”
Thus ESPN analyses the top 11 stars from Malawi, Zambia, Morocco, South Africa and the Côte d’Ivoire.
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)
The Kansas City Current star has — together with Barbra Banda — changed the game for African women’s players in the NWSL with a remarkable strike rate upfront. At her first WAfCON, she could be just as influential for the Malawi Scorchers.
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi)
The elder Chawinga sister averaged a goal involvement per game (13 goals and five assists in 18 matches) for French champions Lyon in 2025-26. As a playmaker, finisher and leader, she is likely to be influential for Malawi.
Captain Tabitha
Barbra Banda (Zambia)
A striker who needs little introduction. The Copper Queens captain has led from the front for her country in a period of unprecedented success. She is also one of the biggest stars in the NWSL for Orlando Pride.
Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)
At the time Bay FC signed her, Kundananji was the most expensive player in women’s world football. Capable of playing out wide or upfront and of launching attacks from deep or running in behind, she is one of the top players in women’s football.
Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco)
Chebbak has claimed back-to-back Golden Boots in back-to-back runners-up finishes for Morocco. The Atlas Lionesses will need her at her best if they are to finally claim gold.
Gift Monday (Nigeria)
Such is Nigeria’s depth upfront that it is almost impossible to single out players to watch, as all of their attacking players can make a difference but not all of them can fit on the field at once.
However, Monday is among those capable of changing a game alone — just ask Houston Dash, against whom she scored a hat-trick in under 36 minutes for Washington Spirit.
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
With six African Women’s Footballer of the Year awards, Oshoala can never be written off among the players to watch at a tournament such as this.
The Al-Hilal striker may not have had the best of stints at Bay FC prior to her move to Saudi Arabia, but this year, she scored in back-to-back wins over Senegal to prove she can still be an asset for coach Justin Madugu.
Oshoala
Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria)
Okoronkwo was one of the most important players — if not the most important — in Nigeria’s WAfCON triumph last year.
The AFC Toronto star is technically one of the many forwards in Justin Madugu’s squad, but she brings more than goals to the table.
Her playmaking ability was essential in firing the Super Falcons back to the top of African women’s football.
Linda Motlhalo (South Africa)
Glasgow City midfielder Motlhalo — known as the ‘Randfontein Ronaldinho’ — has been a key component of Banyana’s unprecedented success over the last decade.
At club level, she has admitted that her scoring rate could be higher, but she has reliably found the net at international level while midfield partner Refiloe Jane has dictated the play from deeper.
Motlhalo is a reliable penalty-taker, but also contributes goals from open play. Jane assisted her winner recently in the 1-0 victory over Japan from a corner.
Thembi Khatlana (South Africa)
Kgatlana has been hampered by injuries over the last three years, but she tends to raise her game for major tournaments.
Thembi Khatlana
This has been particularly evident at World Cups, but in a sense, Kgatlana still has a point to prove on the continental stage.
Despite starring at WAfCON 2018, where Banyana finished second, she was injured en route to the title in 2022 and missed the last tournament due to personal reasons.
Crucially for Banyana, Kgatlana’s recent performances for Tigres UANL suggest she is still a player who can be counted on to deliver on big occasions.
Rosemonde Kouassi (Côte d’Ivoire)
Kouassi’s wizardry on the wing for Washington Spirit has been instrumental for them since she joined in July 2024.
The leading scorer in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup is equally adept at the art of playmaking and this tournament could be a chance to write her name into the history books in the colours of Côte d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held a Stars Spotlight Webinar Series last week that brought together some of Africa’s leading women’s football stars for an exclusive media engagement ahead of the continent’s premier women’s football competition.
They involved the Scorchers’ captain Tabitha alongside Asisat Oshoala; Zambia’s Barbra Banda; Refiloe Jane (South Africa); Cynthia F. Konlan (Ghana); Nadine Ghazi (Egypt); and Anastazia Katunzi (Tanzania).
Reigning African Women Player of the Year, Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco was first featured along with Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné (Cameroon), Chloé N’Gazi (Algeria), Mama Diop (Senegal), Bernadette Amani (Côte d’Ivoire) and Charlotte Millogo (Burkina Faso).
This highly amplifies African women football profile, giving this edition all the more attention following the fall of the curtain for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 won by Spain after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final.
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