Cameroon secured its first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Sunday, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final held in Rabat, Morocco. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Indomitable Lionesses, who had previously appeared in finals in 2004, 2014, and 2016 without securing the trophy.
Cameroon Claims Historic First Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Title
The team’s path to the championship was unexpected; Cameroon had not initially qualified for the tournament but was granted a spot after a decision in November to expand the competition from 12 to 16 teams.
A Decisive Performance in Rabat
From the opening whistle, Cameroon asserted its dominance over Malawi, a team that had made history as the first nation to reach the final in its debut appearance since the tournament’s inception in 1998. The Indomitable Lionesses utilized a strategy of constant pressure, repeatedly targeting the Malawi penalty area with crosses.
Marie Ngah Manga led the offensive effort, scoring twice with headers from crosses originating on the left flank. The first goal arrived in the 20th minute after the Malawi goalkeeper failed to secure an aerial ball. In the 30th minute, Naomi Eto extended the lead with a cross-court strike following a corner kick. Ngah Manga added a third goal in stoppage time (45+3) after capitalizing on another error by the Malawi goalkeeper. Late in the match, Gabrielle Onguéné nearly added a fourth goal, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
Neutralizing the Scorchers
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the FIFA rankings, entered the final with a high-scoring reputation. The team’s attack had been driven by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, who had combined for nine of the team’s 12 tournament goals. Temwa Chawinga finished the competition as the leading goalscorer with five goals. However, the Cameroonian defense effectively neutralized both players throughout the final, preventing them from replicating their earlier offensive form.
Road to the Championship
Cameroon’s journey to the title included overcoming significant opposition. After finishing at the top of their group, the Lionesses defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the quarterfinals, ending the campaign of a team that had won 10 of the 13 previous WAFCON editions. In the semifinals, Cameroon advanced past the tournament host, Morocco, winning 3-0 on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
A central figure in Cameroon’s defensive success was goalkeeper Michaely Bihina. Throughout the tournament, Bihina recorded three clean sheets and allowed only two goals in five matches. Her performance in the semifinal against Morocco—which included seven saves, a penalty stop during play, and three saves during the penalty shootout—earned her recognition as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
The final result leaves Malawi as the tournament runner-up, concluding a campaign that saw the team achieve a historic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Morocco, which lost in the semifinals to Cameroon, finished the tournament in fourth place after a loss to Algeria in the third-place match.
Cameroon’s victory and historic first title follow a tournament defined by unprecedented upsets and the standout defensive play of the newly crowned champions.
