Cameroon Crowned WAFCON Champions
Cameroon made history on Sunday by winning their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close-range header before Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage with a stunning volley 10 minutes later.
The Indomitable Lionesses effectively sealed the contest in first-half stoppage time when Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo before setting up Ngah Manga for her second goal of the night.
Malawi, appearing in their first-ever WAFCON final, struggled to reproduce the attacking form that had carried them to the decisive match. The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, were kept largely quiet by a disciplined Cameroon defence.
Ngah Manga missed an opportunity to complete her hat-trick early in the second half, firing wide from close range after rounding Sikelo.
Malawi came close to reducing the deficit shortly after the hour mark, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina denied Tabitha Chawinga before the forward fired the rebound wide.
The triumph represents a remarkable turnaround for Cameroon, who missed the 2024 WAFCON and initially failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria.
They were eventually admitted following CAF’s expansion of the finals from 12 to 16 teams, with their world ranking earning them a place.
Cameroon had previously lost three WAFCON finals but finally ended their wait for continental glory.
The champions will receive $2 million in prize money and become only the fourth nation to win the women’s continental title, after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Cameroon and Malawi will also represent Africa at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, alongside semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close-range header before Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage with a stunning volley 10 minutes later.
The Indomitable Lionesses effectively sealed the contest in first-half stoppage time when Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo before setting up Ngah Manga for her second goal of the night.
Malawi, appearing in their first-ever WAFCON final, struggled to reproduce the attacking form that had carried them to the decisive match. The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, were kept largely quiet by a disciplined Cameroon defence.
Ngah Manga missed an opportunity to complete her hat-trick early in the second half, firing wide from close range after rounding Sikelo.
Malawi came close to reducing the deficit shortly after the hour mark, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina denied Tabitha Chawinga before the forward fired the rebound wide.
The triumph represents a remarkable turnaround for Cameroon, who missed the 2024 WAFCON and initially failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria.
They were eventually admitted following CAF’s expansion of the finals from 12 to 16 teams, with their world ranking earning them a place.
Cameroon had previously lost three WAFCON finals but finally ended their wait for continental glory.
The champions will receive $2 million in prize money and become only the fourth nation to win the women’s continental title, after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Cameroon and Malawi will also represent Africa at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, alongside semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.
