Rabat – A historic clash takes center stage in Rabat today as Algeria and tournament debutants Malawi meet for the first time ever at the WAFCON, with a place in the final on the line.
Algeria reached the last four following a dramatic 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Ivory Coast. After advancing from Group A alongside hosts Morocco, the Fennecs have built their campaign on defensive resilience, yielding just two goals in four matches.
Malawi’s debut campaign has been nothing short of a fairy tale. The Scorchers reached the semifinals after taking down Ghana 2-1 in the quarterfinals, following earlier group-stage victories over Nigeria and Egypt. By reaching the semi-finals, Malawi became the first tournament debutants to reach this stage since 2000.
Match details:
- Fixture: Algeria vs Malawi
- Competition: WAFCON 2026 (Semi-final)
- Venue: Olympic Stadium, Rabat, Morocco
- Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- Kick-off: 6:00 p.m. Morocco time (WET) / 5:00 p.m. GMT / 7:00 p.m. CAT
How to watch:
- MENA / Algeria: Arryadia (SNRT) / beIN Sports
- Malawi / Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport / KBC
- Global Digital Streaming: CAF TV (YouTube)
Algeria team news
Form & fitness: Algeria arrives in Rabat fully fit after recovering from their physically demanding quarterfinal tie. Coach Farid Benstiti has no major suspension concerns and is expected to retain his solid structural setup.
Key players: Winger Marine Dafeur and midfielder Lina Boussaha dictate the attack, while center-back Sofia Guellati anchors a backline that has been among the stingiest in the competition.
Malawi team news
Form & fitness: The Scorchers enter the tie with tremendous momentum, having earned qualification for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup by reaching the last four. No new injury issues have been reported from the quarterfinal win over Ghana.
Key players: Star forward sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga lead a fast, fearless frontline, supported by forward Asimenye Simwaka’s transition play.
What to expect
This semi-final sets up a classic contrast of styles: Algeria’s disciplined, defensive mid-block against Malawi’s explosive, direct attacking transitions.
Algeria will look to control the tempo, restrict space inside their own penalty box, and frustrate the Scorchers. Malawi will look to press high early and use the Chawinga sisters’ vertical speed to catch Algeria’s defense off balance.
Prediction: Algeria 1-1 Malawi (Malawi to win on Penalties).
