Cameroon achieved a significant milestone by claiming their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title, defeating tournament debutants Malawi with a 3-0 victory. The final match took place in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, marking a historic moment for the Indomitable Lionesses.
The scoring began in the 20th minute when Marie Ngah Manga netted a close-range header, giving Cameroon the lead. Shortly after, Naomi Eto extended their advantage with a volley on the half-hour mark. The Central Africans further solidified their lead in the third minute of first-half added time, as Eto assisted Ngah Manga for her fifth goal of the finals, making the score 3-0.
Cameroon’s path to victory
Malawi, ranked 153rd globally and the lowest-ranked team at Wafcon 2026, had reached the final largely due to the offensive contributions of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa. However, the Cameroon defence effectively contained the Scorchers’ key players, preventing them from achieving a fairytale conclusion to their unexpected tournament run.
Ngah Manga had an opportunity to complete her hat-trick early in the second half but missed the target. Malawi’s best chance came after the hour mark when Tabitha Chawinga’s low shot was saved by Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, and her younger sibling fired the rebound wide.
Cameroon’s victory is particularly notable as they missed the 2024 edition of Wafcon and initially failed to qualify for these finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second-round tie. Their participation in the tournament was secured based on their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Caf counterpart Patrice Motsepe were present to award the trophy. Cameroon, who had previously lost three Wafcon finals, received $2m in prize money. They are now the fourth team to win the title, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.
Tournament highlights and global reach
Both Cameroon and Malawi are set to participate in the 2027 Women’s Fifa World Cup in Brazil, alongside fellow Wafcon semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco. Ngah Manga expressed her satisfaction, stating, “We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions we are very proud.”
The opening goal for Cameroon occurred after Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo misjudged a cross from Eto. Grace Mendoua’s header was tipped onto the bar by Sikelo, and Ngah Manga capitalised on the rebound from two yards out. Cameroon, ranked 82 places higher than their opponents, maintained their momentum from that point.
The second goal came when Malawi failed to clear a corner, allowing Eto to score with a first-time effort into the bottom right-hand corner. Sikelo was also involved in the third goal, as she came off her line in an attempt to intercept a through ball from Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck. Eto reached the ball first, crossed it for Ngah Manga to head into an empty net.
Valentine Nguele, who took charge as Cameroon coach in June, has developed a well-organised team. They upset Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals and then defeated host nation Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals. Goalkeeper Bihina was a key performer in both matches, making nine saves against the Super Falcons and saving an extra-time penalty and three spot-kicks against the North Africans.
The final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 on 16 August 2026 was broadcast live for the first time in territories such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and several regions in South America. Over 85 countries watched the final live, highlighting the increasing global interest in African Women’s Football.
Broadcasters across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Oceania, and North America provided extensive coverage. In Africa, major pan-African partners CANAL+ and SuperSport, along with national and regional broadcasters like Canal 2, CRTV, and MSI in Cameroon, and MBC in Malawi, ensured widespread access. European coverage included Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, Ziggo in the Netherlands, and DAZN DACH covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. beIN Sports further extended the international reach to audiences in the Middle East and North Africa, France, Asia-Pacific, Oceania, and North America.
The decision by Caf to expand the tournament to 16 nations has been seen as a success, allowing more teams to showcase their abilities and narrow the gap with the continent’s established footballing powers. This expansion has contributed to the growing international appetite for African Women’s Football.
Source: bbc.com
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