Indomitable Lionesses end 22-year wait for continental crown

Cameroon won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with an emphatic 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi on Sunday evening at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. A brace from Marie Ngah Manga and a goal from Naomi Eto, all coming in the first half, secured the first continental trophy for the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.

They previously made the WAFCON final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, but lost all three to Nigeria. Cameroon will receive $2 million in prize money from the Confederation of African Football, double the prize pot from the 2025 WAFCON. Malawi will receive $750,000 as a finalist. All other WAFCON participants will receive $150,000.

Control in midfield and clinical finishing

Despite expectations of a dual Malawian threat from Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, the Scorchers were unable to match Cameroon’s technical precision in the midfield, nor their tenacity in front of goal. Malawi registered just two shots on goal to Cameroon’s seven.

Unexpected route to the final

Cameroon’s unique and wholly unexpected journey to the WAFCON final began long before their first match. They did not initially qualify for the tournament but were admitted last November after CAF spontaneously decided to expand the format from 12 teams to 16 for the first time. Mali, Ivory Coast, and Egypt were also admitted through expansion due to their high FIFA rankings.

Grouped with Ghana, Mali, and Cape Verde, Cameroon were undefeated in the preliminary stage of their WAFCON campaign, beating Mali 2-1 and Ghana 1-0 before drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde to top Group D and reach the knockout stage.

They faced Nigeria in the quarterfinals. On top of being 10-time and reigning WAFCON champions, Nigeria had also won a vast majority of their meetings with Cameroon. Out of 40 games, Cameroon had won just two before Aug. 9. But Cameroon were not to be denied in the quarterfinal match, scoring a goal in the 19th minute and holding their lead in a 1-0 upset win over the Super Falcons of Nigeria. That win also clinched a spot in the 2027 World Cup.

Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina leads the run

Cameroon’s quarterfinal performance also served as a coronation for goalkeeper Michaely Bihina. The preternatural instinct and composure from the 22-year-old Benfica product were hugely instrumental in denying Nigeria the chance to equalize.

The next match against Morocco in the WAFCON semifinals then vaulted her into superlative territory. The semifinal was a predator derby of sorts between the Indomitable Lionesses and the Atlas Lions of Morocco. The latter, who have hosted three consecutive WAFCON tournaments, were favored to win this edition after being finalists in their last two attempts.

Bihina recorded three saves in Cameroon’s scoreless draw with Morocco, including a crucial penalty save at the end of regulation to send the match into extra time. She followed that up with three more saves in the penalty shootout to send Morocco to the third-place match as they booked their spot in their first WAFCON final since 2016.

“We fought hard in every match,” Cameroon head coach Valentine Nguele said on the eve of the final. “Every game was like a final for us, and we earned our spot.”

Nguele emphasized her squad would “approach this final just like the other matches — without any pressure, and really enjoying the game. We’ll encourage the kids to stick to our game plan. And that’s it. We’re going to give it our all so we have no regrets at the end.”

Coaching staff and club links

The team’s victory was the product of her accelerated plan and significant support from Nguele’s experienced coaching staff. Nguele is the former manager of FC Ebolowa, a top-flight women’s side in Cameroon’s Super League. Four of the players on Cameroon’s championship squad — including Grace Mendoua, who started every match in their historic run — are Ebolowa players.

Nguele is also a former goalkeeper who played on the national team for a decade between 2000 and 2010, and participated in Cameroon’s fourth-place finish in the 2006 WAFCON.

On June 12, just over six weeks before the start of WAFCON, the Cameroon Football Federation announced Nguele’s hiring, reportedly a specific selection by federation president and legendary footballer Samuel Eto’o. The federation president also selected Nguele’s assistant coach, Dmitri Lipoff, a French former player and current manager of the Al Ahly women’s team in the Egyptian Women’s Premier League.

Awards in Rabat

As ribbons of gold confetti showered the pitch during the medal ceremony, Bihina received the Golden Glove award for her outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

Temwa Chawinga earned the Golden Boot, a tightly contested race that saw the Malawi and Kansas City Current striker score the same number of goals as Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda. Chawinga edged Banda on assists, two to one.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Eto’o were both in attendance for the final and joined players onstage to hand out awards.

Cameroon’s WAFCON triumph and World Cup qualification is particularly important for the continued growth of football in the country. Supporters recently had to watch the men’s World Cup this summer without the presence of their men’s national team, who failed to qualify.