Cameroon Beat Malawi 3-0 To Claim First WAFCON Title

Cameroon defeated tournament debutant Malawi in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, winning the trophy for the first time. 

The Indomitable Lionesses, who failed to qualify for the previous edition of the tournament, had lost on their last three appearances in the final; all to 10-time winner Nigeria.

Marie Ngah scored twice and Naomi Eto once in the final in Rabat as the Indomitable Lionesses became queens of African football for the first time.

Ngah Manga missed a glorious chance to complete her hat-trick three minutes into the second half when she went past Sikelo but fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping.

Cameroon’s triumph is all the more remarkable given that the Indomitable Lionesses missed the 2024 edition of Wafcon and failed to qualify for this year’s finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second round tie.

However, the Central Africans advanced to the tournament after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams, thereby allowing the four highest ranked losers, led by Cameroon, to be added for the two-yearly competition, which Morocco hosted for the third consecutive time.

It was a sad climax for Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, who had reached the title decider with the Chawinga sisters, captain Tabitha and Temwa, scoring nine goals between them.

The two sisters 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 at the tournament.

The Scorchers had their best chance just after the hour mark as Cameroon keeper Michaely Bihina saved a low effort from Tabitha Chawinga before her younger sister turned and fired the rebound wide.

Cameroon, for wining the title, picked up $2m 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.