Cameroon claimed their maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with a comfortable 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi in Rabat, Morocco.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring with a close-range header in the 20th minute, before Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage with a spectacular volley just before the half-hour mark. The Indomitable Lionesses added a third in first-half stoppage time when Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and squared the ball for Ngah Manga to net her fifth goal of the tournament.
Malawi, the lowest-ranked team in the competition at 153rd in the world, had reached the final riding on the attacking threat of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. But Cameroon’s defence kept both players largely quiet, denying the Scorchers a fairy-tale finish to their surprise run. Ngah Manga squandered a chance to complete her hat-trick early in the second half, firing wide from close range, while Malawi’s best opportunity came just after the hour mark when goalkeeper Michaely Bihina denied Tabitha Chawinga before Temwa fired the rebound wide.
The triumph is especially notable given Cameroon missed the 2024 tournament entirely after failing to qualify, losing to Algeria in the second round. They only made it to this year’s finals after the Confederation of African Football expanded the competition from 12 to 16 teams, allowing them in on ranking.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the trophy alongside CAF president Patrice Motsepe, as Cameroon pocketed $2 million in prize money and became just the fourth nation to win the title, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. The Indomitable Lionesses had previously lost three WAFCON finals, in 2004, 2014 and 2016, all to Nigeria.
“We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions we are very proud,” Ngah Manga said afterward.
Cameroon coach Valentine Nguele, who only took charge in June, guided the side past Nigeria in the quarter-finals and host nation Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals. Goalkeeper Bihina was instrumental in both wins, making nine saves against the Super Falcons before saving four spot-kicks in the shootout against Morocco.
Both Cameroon and Malawi will feature at the 2027 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, alongside fellow semi-finalists Morocco and Algeria.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
