Cameroon have made history by winning their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, defeating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in the 2026 final in Rabat, Morocco.
The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant first-half performance, scoring all three goals before the break to put the final beyond Malawi’s reach. Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage. Ngah Manga then struck again in first-half stoppage time to complete her brace.
The victory ends decades of heartbreak for Cameroon in the competition. Before 2026, the Indomitable Lionesses had reached the WAFCON final three times, losing each occasion to Nigeria in 2004, 2014 and 2016. Their fourth appearance finally delivered the trophy.
Cameroon’s road to the championship was particularly remarkable. After initially missing out on qualification, they were brought into the expanded 16-team tournament. They went on to defeat Nigeria in the quarter-finals, before overcoming hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals after a goalless draw.
Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was instrumental in the semi-final victory, saving three penalties against Morocco to send Cameroon into their first WAFCON final since 2016.
The final also represented a historic occasion for Malawi, who were competing at the WAFCON for the first time. The Scorchers produced one of the tournament’s biggest fairytale runs, reaching the final after defeating Nigeria in the group stage and overcoming Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds.
Cameroon’s triumph makes them only the fourth nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining record champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. They also become just the third African country to win both the men’s and women’s continental championships, after Nigeria and South Africa.
The victory marks a new chapter in Cameroonian women’s football. After three painful final defeats, the Indomitable Lionesses have finally conquered Africa and secured their place in WAFCON history.
Cameroon are African champions for the first time. 🇨🇲🏆
