Cameroon whip Malawi to win first-ever WAFCON title

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after defeating debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.

Cameroon produced a dominant first-half display at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, scoring all three goals before the break to secure the historic victory.

Marie Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute, heading Cameroon into the lead before Naomi Eto doubled the advantage nine minutes later.

Manga then completed her brace in first-half stoppage time, giving the Indomitable Lionesses a commanding 3-0 lead going into the interval.

Malawi, making their debut at the continental championship, attempted to fight back after the restart, with the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, unable to break through Cameroon’s defence.

Cameroon goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina, helped preserve the clean sheet as the Indomitable Lionesses held on comfortably to secure the continental crown.

The victory ended Cameroon’s long wait for the WAFCON title after three previous defeats in the final.

The Indomitable Lionesses had lost the 2004, 2014, and 2016 finals, all against Nigeria, before finally ending their run of disappointment in Morocco.

Cameroon became the fourth nation to win the WAFCON, joining record champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.

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The triumph also made Cameroon only the third African country, after Nigeria and South Africa, to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.

For Malawi, the defeat ended an extraordinary debut campaign which saw the Scorchers reach the final after eliminating some of the continent’s established teams.

Malawi had earlier stunned defending champions Nigeria in the group stage before defeating Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds to reach their first-ever WAFCON final.

Cameroon’s triumph brings the curtain down on the 2026 WAFCON with Algeria emerging as bronze medalists after defeating hosts Morocco in the third place playoffs.