The Indian women’s national football team have ended their FIFA Series 2026 campaign with a podium finish. On Wednesday, April 16, the Blue Tigresses finished in third place after defeating Malawi by 3-2 at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. Astam Oraon, Aveka Singh, and substitute Priyadharshini Selladurai were the goal scorers for the team, while Malawi got their two goals from its players, Khumalo Ireen and Henry Deborah.
India started off strong, earning early possession. Their attacking stance resulted well in the 18th minute as Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam delivered a float from the right corner, but in return, the Malawian goalkeeper Esther Maulidi failed to make contact as she came off the line. Meanwhile, Aveka Singh finds the ball, and Astam Oraon was quick enough to respond to score it into the net, giving India the lead.
Oraon’s opening goal at just 21 years old set the stage for a fierce battle, but Malawi quickly upped their intensity and seized more control. The Indian defense was pushed to its limits as Malawi charged forward, finally earning a crucial free-kick in the 42nd minute. Sanfida Nongrum’s foul-handed Bernadetta Mkandawire took the chance, and Ireen stepped up with nerves of steel, blasting a left-footed strike into the top corner. Despite a desperate effort from keeper Shreya Hooda, the equaliser rattled the Blue Tigresses and set the match ablaze.
Refusing to let the pressure crack their spirit, the Blue Tigresses struck back in dramatic fashion. In the dying moments of the first half, a quick one-two between Karishma Shirvoikar and Babina Lisham sliced open the left flank. With the Malawi defense on the back foot, Aveka Singh sprang into position and coolly slotted home, reclaiming India’s lead just before the break. The celebration underscored the significance of Aveka’s first national goal, arriving at a pivotal juncture.
After the break, the Malawi team went aggressive, making new moves in attack, and they successfully suppressed the Indian team while gaining possession multiple times. They went on to tie the score after an hour had passed in the match. Ireen delivered a corner from the right, which substitute Mulimbika Sarah, and Deborah were quick enough to score into the net, to take the game at 2-2.
The game got intense and grew in the closing minutes as both sides were trying to take the lead. Malawi continued to dominate, but Indian goalkeeper Shreya commanded her role quite well and successfully denied the opponents any chances.
With just six minutes left in the game, India’s Nirmala takes a free-kick from the halfway line, which gets picked by substitute Selladurai, who cuts inside before making a strike into the bottom corner. The attempt left the Malawi goalkeeper unable to save, and India added their third in the game.
The Blue Tigresses held the lead until the end and secured a hard-fought victory against Malawi with a third-place finish in the FIFA Series 2026. Earlier in the semi-finals, the Blue Tigresses were beaten by Kenya 0-2 on April 11.
