Cameroon win first Women's Africa Cup of Nations title

Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi to claim their first ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title. The Indomitable Lionesses triumphed in the Moroccan capital Rabat, with Marie Ngah Manga and Naomi Eto scoring in the first half to secure a historic win.

First-half dominance

Marie Ngah Manga's close-range header put Cameroon ahead in the 20th minute, and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half-hour mark. The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and set up Ngah Manga for her fifth goal of the tournament.

Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa. However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run.

Missed chances and defensive resilience

Ngah Manga missed a glorious chance to complete her hat-trick and secure the golden boot outright three minutes into the second half when she went past Sikelo but fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping. The Scorchers had their best opening just after the hour mark as Cameroon keeper Michaely Bihina saved a low effort from Tabitha Chawinga before her younger sibling turned and fired the rebound wide.

Cameroon's triumph is all the more remarkable given the Indomitable Lionesses missed the 2024 edition of Wafcon and failed to qualify for these finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second-round tie. However, the Central Africans advanced to the tournament on the strength of their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams.

Historic achievement and future prospects

Cameroon, who previously lost three Wafcon finals, pick up $2m (£1.48m) in prize money and become just the fourth side to win the title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. Both sides will feature at the 2027 Women's Fifa World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow Wafcon semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.

"We are very happy," Ngah Manga said on E4. "We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions we are very proud."

Capitalising on errors

Both sides looked nervy in the opening stages, with the Southern Africans repeatedly trying to play in Temwa Chawinga with early balls forward - a tactic that worked well in their semi-final victory over Algeria. The opener came after Sikelo misjudged an Eto cross from the right, and Grace Mendoua's header back across goal was tipped onto the bar by the Malawi keeper. Ngah Manga was on hand to pounce on the rebound from two yards out, and Cameroon, ranked 82 places above their opponents, never looked back.

The Indomitable Lionesses doubled their lead when Malawi failed to clear a corner and Eto pivoted before sending her first-time effort into the bottom right-hand corner. Sikelo was arguably at fault for the third as she decided to come off her line in an attempt to cut out Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck's through ball, but Eto beat her there, got to the byline and crossed for Ngah Manga to head into an empty net from two yards.

Coach's impact and goalkeeper's heroics

Valentine Nguele only took charge as Cameroon coach in June but has built a well-drilled side which upset Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals and then beat host nation Morocco on penalties in the last four. Bihina was the star in both of those matches, pulling off nine saves against the Super Falcons and then keeping out an extra-time penalty and three more spot-kicks in the shootout against the North Africans. The 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper was rarely called upon in the final as Malawi's challenge faded.