new delhi, April 16
India’s women’s football team ended their FIFA Series 2026 campaign on a positive note, defeating the Malawi women’s national football team 3-2 in an intense third-place play-off at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.
The Blue Tigresses delivered a determined performance, with goals from Astam Oraon, Aveka Singh and substitute Priyadharshini Selladurai ensuring victory. For Malawi, Khumalo Ireen and Henry Deborah found the net in a closely fought encounter.
India started brightly and took control early in the match. Their attacking intent paid off in the 18th minute when a well-delivered corner from Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam created confusion in the opposition box. Oraon reacted quickly and slotted the ball home, marking her first international goal and giving India a deserved lead.
Malawi gradually settled into the game and found their equaliser just before halftime. Ireen produced a superb free-kick in the 42nd minute to level the score. However, India responded almost immediately. In first-half stoppage time, Aveka Singh finished off a well-constructed move to restore India’s lead, ensuring they went into the break ahead.
The second half saw Malawi increase the pressure as they searched for another equaliser. Their efforts paid off in the 60th minute when Deborah capitalised on a set-piece situation to make it 2-2, setting up a tense finish.
As the match grew increasingly physical and scrappy, both sides pushed for a decisive goal. India’s goalkeeper Shreya Hooda played a crucial role, making important saves to keep her team in the game under mounting pressure.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute. A long free-kick from Nirmala found Selladurai, who showed composure by cutting inside and placing a precise shot into the bottom corner to seal the win. India held firm in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought victory and finish third in the tournament, bouncing back strongly after their semi-final loss to the Kenya women’s national football team.
