By Tapiwa Chawagarira
RABAT — Cameroon finally ended their long wait for continental glory after producing a devastating first-half performance to defeat debutants Malawi 3-0 and lift the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time in Rabat on Sunday.
The Indomitable Lionesses settled the contest inside the opening 45 minutes at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with Marie Ngah scoring twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto adding the other goal as Cameroon turned years of disappointment into a historic triumph.
Ngah broke the deadlock in the 20th minute before Ndjoah Eto doubled the advantage 10 minutes later, with Myriam Nyadjou providing the assist. Ngah then struck again in first-half stoppage time, effectively putting the final beyond Malawi before the break.
For Cameroon, the victory was particularly significant given their history in the competition. The Central Africans had previously reached the final three times — in 2004, 2014 and 2016 — but lost on each occasion to Nigeria.
The latest success therefore brought an end to a painful sequence of final defeats and made Cameroon only the fourth different nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The triumph also completed a remarkable turnaround for a Cameroon side that had to negotiate a difficult route to the final. They defeated defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals before overcoming hosts Morocco in the semi-finals after a goalless draw and penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina emerged as one of the heroes against Morocco, saving three penalties to send Cameroon into their fourth WAFCON final.
Standing between Cameroon and history was a Malawi side enjoying an extraordinary debut at the continental showpiece.
The Scorchers had already rewritten the history books by becoming the first Malawian women’s team to reach the WAFCON final. Their run was driven by the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, as Malawi defeated ten-time champions Nigeria during the group stage before eliminating Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds.
Malawi’s semi-final victory over Algeria was another statement of their rapid rise. They came from a tournament debut to a place in the final after beating Algeria 3-1, with Tabitha Chawinga scoring twice to help secure both a historic final appearance and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Despite their impressive campaign, Malawi found Cameroon a step too far in the final.
The result, however, should not diminish what was arguably the greatest achievement in the history of Malawian women’s football. Reaching the final secured Malawi a place at their first-ever Women’s World Cup, while their performances in Morocco announced the Chawinga sisters and their teammates as a force to watch in African women’s football.
The 2026 WAFCON was also historic beyond the finalists. The tournament was expanded to 16 teams and served as the principal African qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The competition ran from July 26 to August 16, with the final staged in Rabat.
Cameroon’s success consequently represents more than the country’s first women’s continental title. It marks the return of the Indomitable Lionesses to the summit of African women’s football and provides a major boost ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
For Malawi, meanwhile, the final defeat closes a remarkable tournament but opens a new chapter.
The Scorchers may have fallen short of the trophy, but their journey from WAFCON debutants to finalists and World Cup qualifiers has already established them among the continent’s emerging women’s football powers.
In the end, Cameroon had the experience, quality and composure to seize the biggest moment.
After three failed attempts in previous finals, the Indomitable Lionesses finally had their African crown.
