Cameroon won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with a commanding 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi in the final on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco.
Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto once, all in the first half, as the Indomitable Lionesses ended years of final heartbreak at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium. Ngah Manga opened the scoring with a close-range header in the 20th minute, Eto doubled the lead around the half-hour mark with a clinical finish, and Ngah Manga completed her brace in first-half stoppage time.
Cameroon had previously reached the final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, losing all three to Nigeria. This time they made no mistake against a Malawi side that staged a fairytale run to the decider on their first appearance at the competition.
The triumph was especially remarkable given Cameroon’s rocky path into the tournament. They initially failed to qualify after losing to Algeria but earned a place when CAF expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams, with the Indomitable Lionesses among the highest-ranked sides added. They then knocked out holders Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals and beat hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals, with goalkeeper Michaely Bihina playing a starring role.
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, relied heavily on the attacking threat of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga but were unable to break down a disciplined Cameroon defence. Temwa Chawinga finished as the tournament’s top scorer.
Cameroon will receive $2 million in prize money. Both finalists, along with semi-finalists Morocco and Algeria, qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe presented the trophy as Cameroon became only the fourth different nation to win the WAFCON, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Story by : Emmanuel Nettey
