Malawi women claimed a 3-1 victory over Algeria in the semi-finals of the Women's African Cup of Nations on Tuesday. The result sends the visitors into the final while Algeria's campaign comes to an end. Both sides entered the clash on equal footing, sitting level on six points from three matches each.
And here's the thing — two red cards, one for each side, shaped a game that might have played out differently. Algeria were second in the group, Malawi third, but the gap on the table meant nothing on the pitch. The hosts felt the pressure early, or so the statistics suggest.
Algeria enjoyed 52 per cent possession and launched 79 attacks compared to Malawi's 72. But possession meant little when the shots told a different story. Nine on target for Algeria against seven for the visitors, yet the accuracy figures barely moved the needle — 39 per cent versus 41. They clawed their way back into the game, only to find themselves chasing again.
To be fair, Malawi's efficiency was the difference. Seven shots on target produced three goals. Algeria's nine attempts on goal yielded just one. The clean-sheet run came to an end for the visitors, but not before they paid for a sloppy opening that let the game flow the other way.
The result reshapes the final. Malawi advance with momentum, having beaten Ghana and Nigeria in previous rounds, while Algeria's run — which included victories over Kenya and Senegal — concludes in disappointment. The final awaits, and the visitors have earned their place in it.