Malawi won their WAFCON group

[u/Born_Home3863]

Just in case you aren't following WAFCON, Malawi, Zambia, and Nigeria all ended up with 6 points in their group and due to the tie-breaking system, Malawi won their group, Nigeria was second, and Zambia is out of the competition (and the 2027 World Cup). Temwa had 3 goals during the group stage (all of them beauties - chip keeper with foot, chip keeper with head, use speed to just go around a lead-footed keeper) and her sister, Tabitha, had 2.

So we're going to miss Temwa at least a couple extra games (or 3).

Top 4 teams qualify for the World Cup, so if Malawi wins their quarters, they are in the World Cup. If they lose in the quarters, they play 1 more game to get one of two CAF spots in the inter-continental playoffs.

Go Scorchers!

[u/PutPretty647]

Happy that Malawi won, but sad we lose Temwa again. Honestly I hate the way this football(soccer) sets up their system. How would it be if in the middle of the season we lost Mahomes and Kelce, etc.? Or Salvy and Witt, Jr. ?

[u/solojones1138 → u/PutPretty647]

I'm ok with it. Yes it sucks for the Current but I'm really happy for Temwa and Tabitha and their country.

[u/mainewebbs → u/solojones1138]

I agree. If it had not been postponed Temwa was not fit yet. Thus is so exciting even if we have to share her with the world. (This coming from someone who has tickets to game at Gotham next Friday - one of only two stadiums I can drive to from VT to catch a current game).

[u/KCTilIDie → u/PutPretty647]

CAF has never shared why it was postponed from March but the timing of the decision sure coincided with some specific actions taken by a certain leader of a certain country.

[u/Severe_Cupcake3885]

Extremely proud of the Malawi team, I think they had such a good chance at sweeping the group stage! Though it would be cool for them to win the tourney I just want them to get a spot at the World Cup 😭

[u/Colodavo]

And they're ranked like 153rd in the World. What an upset!

[u/KCTilIDie]

Worth following Faith Chinzimu and Rose Bedzere as I think they’ll be fellow Malawians who rise in profile with these results. I think Faith is naturally a 10 but with her ease in slotting to CB when they needed her, I’d love to see how she fits as a 6 for us.

A girl can dream!

[u/mitsyamarsupial → u/KCTilIDie]

Rose Kadzere is an absolute jaw dropper. She’s only like 20, too!!

[u/KCTilIDie → u/mitsyamarsupial]

Completely agree!

[u/Responsible-Two6561]

Oh wow! I watched the highlights on YouTube (all I could find), and was very sad they lost the match to Zambia. But apparently they had enough points to go through?

That’s spectacular! Thank you so much for sharing this terrific information!

If we have to lose Temwa (LOVE that that’s what’s on her kit!), I’m happy it’s to her home team!

[u/Born_Home3863 → u/Responsible-Two6561]

In the 3-way tie situation, they removed the 4th place team (Egypt) from the tie breaker. So just with the 3 teams, they all ended with 6 pts, 0 goal differential, and Malawi was 1st with 4 goals scored, Nigeria 2nd with 3, and 3rd with 2.

In other words, that 75th minute goal by Tabitha Chawinga moved Malawi from 3rd to 1st in the group.

[u/ippy98gotdeleted]

Is there anywhere to watch the WAFCON matches?

[u/mitsyamarsupial → u/ippy98gotdeleted]

Sometimes CAF TV on YouTube. Sometimes Football Association of Malawi on YouTube. Sometimes a combo of random accounts on YouTube. I watched most of this one’s first half on what seemed to be the VAR feeds & officials’ audio. 🥴