The race for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Golden Boot is already gathering momentum, with Zambia captain Barbra Banda and Malawi star Temwa Chawinga setting the early pace after sensational performances in the opening round of matches in Morocco.
Banda currently tops the scoring chart with four goals and one assist, while Chawinga sits close behind after announcing herself on the continental stage with a memorable hat-trick for tournament debutants Malawi.
The reigning CAF Women’s Player of the Year produced one of the standout displays of the tournament as Zambia demolished Egypt 6-0 in their Group C opener.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda. Photocredit; Getty Images.
The Orlando Pride forward was directly involved in five of Zambia’s six goals, winning the penalty that opened the scoring before taking control after the break.
Banda converted a penalty just after the hour mark, headed home moments later, completed her hat-trick from close range before adding a fourth goal late in the contest after connecting with Racheal Kundananji’s cross.
Her dominant performance immediately established the Copper Queens as serious contenders for the title while placing her firmly at the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga and sister Tabitha Chawinga
Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga delivered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament by inspiring her country’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Nigeria.
The Kansas City Current forward scored a superb hat-trick, including a stoppage-time winner, to hand Malawi a famous victory over the record 10-time African champions.
Her first goal also entered the history books as Malawi’s maiden goal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Although neither Banda nor Chawinga added to their tally in their respective second group matches, both remain the leading contenders for the tournament’s top scorer award.
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Cameroon striker Marie Ngah Manga has also made an impressive start to the competition.
The Indomitable Lionesses forward has scored three goals in the opening stages of the tournament, positioning herself as one of the closest challengers to the leading duo.
With the knockout rounds still to come, the race for the Golden Boot remains wide open.
Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak
Hosts Morocco have enjoyed a perfect start to the tournament, recording consecutive victories over Kenya and Algeria without conceding a goal to become the first team to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak, who finished as the competition’s top scorer in the last two editions, is chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Golden Boot while also hoping to lead the Atlas Lionesses to their first ever WAFCON title on home soil.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga have taken an early lead in the race for the 2026 WAFCON Golden Boot, while Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak eyes a third consecutive top scorer award.
While the leading scorers have made impressive starts, they remain some distance away from one of the tournament’s most enduring records.
Former Super Falcons striker Perpetua Nkwocha still holds the record for the most goals scored at a single edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after netting 11 times during the 2010 tournament.
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Sixteen years later, that remarkable benchmark remains untouched, although Banda and Chawinga have given themselves an excellent platform to challenge history if they can maintain their scoring form deep into the competition.
