Written by Peter KanjereMalawi sports betting writer
Published 31 October 2026
Malawi women’s national football team captain Tabitha Chawinga has backed her younger sister Temwa to win the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Player of the Year award.
The Scorchers skipper made the remarks in reaction to the Kansas City Current forward’s 10th-place finish in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or awards at a ceremony held in London on 26 October 2026.
Tabitha said her sister is the favourite to win the CAF accolade this year following her outstanding performance for club and country, having helped Malawi win the silver medal at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Morocco from July to August 2026.
Golden Boot and MVP awards
“I have no doubts that she will win the CAF award; she deserves it more than any other player,” the OL Lyonnes striker told The Nation in its edition of Saturday, 31 October 2026.
“Breaking into the top 10 only put the icing on the cake. She won the [2026] Wafcon [Women’s Africa Cup of Nations] golden boot [with five goals and two assists], played a big role in the Scorchers’ impressive run at the tournament in Morocco where we finished second.
“She also retained both the Golden Boot and the MVP [Most Valuable Player] awards in the US National Women’s Soccer League. This has nothing [to do] with her being my young sister, but what she has achieved.”
First African in the Ballon d’Or top 10
Temwa became the first African woman to be ranked in the top 10 of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, breaking the record Barbra Banda set when she was ranked 12th in 2024. The Kansas City Current player was the only African in the top 10.
Temwa won the 2026 WAFCON Golden Boot after scoring five goals, level with Banda, but the Malawian carried the day because she registered more assists than the Zambian.
The Scorchers vice-captain and her elder sister Tabitha guided Malawi to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil by virtue of reaching the semi-final stage of the 2026 WAFCON finals.
