Cameroon Finally Roar To First WAFCON Crown After Crushing Malawi
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
Cameroon End Years of Heartbreak with Historic WAFCON Triumph
CAMEROON’Ss Indomitable Lionesses have finally broken their long-standing barrier at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, defeating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 to win their first continental title in Rabat, Morocco.
The victory at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium brought an emphatic end to years of frustration for Cameroon, who had reached the WAFCON final three times before but lost on each occasion.
This time, however, there was no room for another near miss.
Cameroon took control of the final from the opening stages and delivered a devastating first-half performance that effectively settled the contest before the interval.
A First-Half Blitz Settles the Final
Cameroon opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Marie Manga rose to head the ball into the net.
The goal immediately gave the Indomitable Lionesses control of the contest and forced Malawi to abandon any cautious approach.
Nine minutes later, Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage.
Malawi, who had entered the final on the back of a remarkable debut campaign, suddenly faced a daunting task against a side that had grown increasingly confident throughout the tournament.
Cameroon were not finished.
Manga struck again in first-half stoppage time to complete her brace and send the Indomitable Lionesses into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The final had, in effect, been decided in 45 minutes.
Malawi Fight, but Cameroon Hold Firm
The Scorchers returned for the second half determined to rescue something from the game.
Malawi’s attack, led by the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, attempted to find a way through Cameroon’s organised defence.
Yet Cameroon refused to surrender the advantage they had built.
Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina and the defensive line kept Malawi from finding the breakthrough that could have changed the momentum of the contest.
Cameroon eventually completed the final without conceding.
The clean sheet reflected a major strength that had defined their campaign.
The Indomitable Lionesses combined defensive discipline with ruthless finishing when the opportunity arrived.
Fourth Time Proves the Charm
The victory carried particular emotional significance because of Cameroon’s difficult history in WAFCON finals.
The country had previously reached the title match in 2004, 2014 and 2016.
On all three occasions, Nigeria stood between Cameroon and the continental trophy.
The defeats included a heavy 5-0 loss in 2004, followed by a 2-0 defeat in 2014 and a narrow 1-0 setback in 2016.
Those disappointments made Cameroon one of the strongest teams in the history of the competition never to win the title.
Morocco 2026 changed that story.
Cameroon entered the tournament with unfinished business and eventually turned years of frustration into their greatest achievement in women’s football.
The triumph also placed the Indomitable Lionesses among the elite nations of African women’s football.
Cameroon became the fourth country to win the WAFCON, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The achievement also gave Cameroon a place in a select group of African nations that have won major continental titles in both men’s and women’s football.
A Dramatic Road to the Crown
Cameroon’s route to the trophy made the achievement even more remarkable.
The team had initially failed to qualify for the tournament but gained entry after the competition expanded from 12 to 16 teams.
That second opportunity became the foundation of a historic campaign.
Cameroon built momentum throughout the competition, displaying defensive resilience and eventually overcoming hosts Morocco in a tense semi-final decided by penalties.
By the time they reached the final, the Indomitable Lionesses had already established themselves as one of the tournament’s most disciplined sides.
They had conceded only two goals before the final and recorded several clean sheets.
Against Malawi, they added attacking efficiency to that defensive solidity.
Three first-half goals ensured that Cameroon would not allow another final to slip away.
Malawi Leave Morocco with Heads High
For Malawi, the defeat ended an extraordinary tournament.
The Scorchers had arrived as debutants but refused to behave like newcomers.
Their journey to the final included a stunning victory over defending champions Nigeria in the group stage and knockout successes over established opponents, including Ghana and Algeria.
The campaign made Malawi one of the most compelling stories of the tournament.
Although the final proved a step too far, their performance demonstrated the continuing growth and competitiveness of women’s football across Africa.
Malawi may have left Rabat without the trophy, but the Scorchers left with a place in WAFCON history.
They became one of the competition’s most remarkable debutants and showed that the traditional hierarchy of African women’s football faces increasing pressure from emerging teams.
Cameroon Begin a New Chapter
For Cameroon, however, the night belonged to a generation that finally completed a journey that had lasted more than two decades.
Three final defeats had created a painful history.
One dominant performance erased it.
The Indomitable Lionesses arrived in Rabat carrying the weight of previous disappointments. They left as champions.
Their 3-0 victory over Malawi did more than deliver a first WAFCON trophy.
It announced Cameroon as the new queens of African women’s football and closed the curtain on the 2026 tournament with one of the most decisive final performances in the competition’s history.
