* And represent another milestone in the Football Association of Malawi’s football development and transformation agenda—Africa Top Sports
* As Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha once more are nominated for African Player of the Year award
* With Mercy Sikelo nominated as Goalkeeper of the Year, Rose Kabzere as Young Player of the Year and the Scorchers as Women’s National Team of the Year
By Duncan Mlanjira
The five Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards 2026 nominations underline the continued growth of women’s football in Malawi and represent another milestone in the football development and transformation agenda of Football Association of Malawi (FAM).
This is maintained by Africa Top Sports, saying 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 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) appearance, reaching the final and securing a historic place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha have once more been nominated for the African Women Player of the Year award after the two finished in final 5 nominees for the 2023 edition.
While Mercy Sikelo nominated as Goalkeeper of the Year, Rose Kabzere as Young Player of the Year and the Scorchers as Women’s National Team of the Year.
This is Tabitha’s 7th nomination but it has eluded her despite some phenomenon attributes of the player in which she etched a niche in women’s football to win the Golden Boot in three of her host countries — Sweden, China and Italy.
She was beaten to it by Nigerian Asisat Oshoala and this time around, the two sisters are up against Zambian Barbra Banda; three Cameroonians, Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina & Monique Ngock; South African Thembi Kgatlana; Marine Dafeur (Algeria); Portia Boakye (Ghana) and Hanane Aït El Haj (Morocco).
Temwa is the leading favourite after making history by finishing 10th in the global Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings last month and spearheading Malawi Scorchers’ to the historic runner-up finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026.
She also captured the tournament’s Golden Boot with 5 goals and 2 assists — all this coming from the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL super stardom.
US-based Temwa Chawinga
Playing for the Kansas City (KC) Current, Chawinga claimed back-to-back NWSL Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours and Golden Boots.
One Football online reports that the race looks tight, “not least because of Temwa but the regular striker for Kansas City in the NWSL was involved in seven Malawi goals at the tournament, five goals and two assists, outpacing Zambia’s Barbra Banda, five goals and one assist, and Cameroon’s Marie Ngah, five goals.
“Michaely Bihina could hold an edge. The Indomitable Lionesses goalkeeper kept four clean sheets in six matches, three in the finals phase, and was decisive in the semi-final shootout, 0-0 then 3-1 on penalties, as Cameroon eliminated hosts Morocco.”
Meanwhile, Bihina — who won the WAfCON 2026 Golden Glove — is also nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year alongside Scorchers and Civil Service Women’s Sikelo.
For Temwa, another upper hand is her stellar international performances that helped Malawi qualify for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 and in the qualification for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 qualification.
Scorchers France-based midfielder Rose Kabzere (Montpellier) is nominated as CAF Young Player of the Year after an impressive WAfCON 2026 campaign, scoring two goals and providing one assist in five matches.
Rose Kadzere
The CAF Awards cover period from January to October that reflect the excellence in women’s football across the continent after their impressive performances at club and national team level.
The winners of the award are determined through votes from the CAF technical committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations.
The Women’s Player of the Year title, to be awarded on December 7, 2026 in Lagos in Nigeria, is held by Moroccan midfielder Ghizlane Chebbak.
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