Cameroon ended their long wait for continental glory on Sunday, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat to claim the title for the first time.
Marie Ngah scored twice, either side of Naomi Ndjoah Eto’s goal, as the Indomitable Lionesses produced a devastating first-half display to turn years of near misses into a landmark triumph.
Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Ndjoah Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage 10 minutes later, finishing off a chance created by Myriam Nyadjou. Ngah then struck again three minutes into first-half stoppage time, this time assisted by Ndjoah Eto, to effectively settle the contest before the interval.
The victory brought an emphatic end to a painful sequence for Cameroon, who had lost three previous finals to Nigeria — in 2004, 2014 and 2016 — without scoring a single goal across all three. The triumph also made Cameroon the fourth different nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The final brought together two sides seeking their first African title, with Malawi attempting to complete a remarkable run in their debut WAFCON appearance and Cameroon looking to finally turn years of frustration into silverware.
But it was Cameroon who settled faster. After an energetic opening spell, Ngah made the breakthrough in the 20th minute, immediately changing the complexion of the final. Malawi, whose attacking strength had been one of the defining features of their campaign, were suddenly forced to chase the game against a Cameroon side built on defensive discipline and efficiency.
Ten minutes later, Nyadjou created the opening for Ndjoah Eto to make it 2-0, tightening Cameroon’s grip on the trophy. Malawi attempted to respond, introducing Tiasha Sani for Chikondi Gondwe in the 43rd minute — but the change could not halt Cameroon’s momentum. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Ndjoah Eto turned provider, setting up Ngah for her second goal in the 45+3 minute. Cameroon went into the interval 3-0 ahead, leaving Malawi with an almost impossible task in the second half.
The third goal was particularly damaging for a Malawi side that had entered the final as the tournament’s leading scorers, with 12 goals. Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga had played leading roles in the Scorchers’ historic campaign. But Cameroon’s defence, which had conceded only twice before the final, once again proved difficult to break down. The victory completed a remarkable knockout run in which Cameroon did not concede a single goal.
From near misses to champions
The Indomitable Lionesses had not originally qualified for the tournament before being added following the expansion of the competition to 16 teams. They seized the opportunity, defeating Ghana in the group stage before producing one of the biggest results of the tournament by eliminating 10-time champions Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals. They then overcame hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties after a goalless semi-final to reach the final.
For captain Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné and a generation of Cameroonian players, Sunday’s win in Rabat represented the culmination of years of continental frustration — a record they erased in emphatic fashion, scoring three times before half-time. Ngah’s brace made her one of the defining figures of the final, while Ndjoah Eto finished with a goal and an assist in an outstanding attacking performance.
Cameroon goalkeeper, 22-year-old Michaely Bihina, was rewarded for a superb WAFCON 2026 campaign as she claimed the Golden Glove after helping the Indomitable Lionesses to their historic first continental title. Bihina emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, combining composure and an ability to produce crucial saves.
Malawi’s historic run ends
The defeat brought disappointment for Malawi, but their campaign remains historic. Playing at the WAFCON for the first time, the Scorchers became the first Southern African debutants to reach the final and produced one of the tournament’s most entertaining runs. They defeated Algeria 3-1 in the semi-finals and entered the final with the competition’s best attacking record. But Cameroon’s experience, defensive organisation and ruthless finishing proved decisive in Rabat.
For the Indomitable Lionesses, there would be no fourth final heartbreak. More than two decades after their first appearance in the continental decider, Cameroon finally reached the summit of African women’s football — and did so with a performance that left little doubt about the deserving champions.
