Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 on Sunday to win their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Rabat, Morocco.
Marie Ngah Manga scored twice, while Naomi Eto also found the net as the Indomitable Lionesses secured a convincing victory over the tournament debutants.
Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close-range header after Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo failed to deal with an Eto cross.
Eto doubled Cameroon’s lead 10 minutes later with a first-time volley after Malawi failed to clear a corner.
Cameroon added a third in the third minute of first-half added time when Eto rounded Sikelo and crossed for Ngah Manga to head into an empty net.
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The victory marked Cameroon’s first WAFCON title after previous final defeats in 2004, 2014 and 2016, all against Nigeria.
Cameroon also became only the fourth nation to win the competition after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Malawi, the lowest-ranked team at WAFCON 2026, at 153rd in the world, had reached the final on the strength of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.
However, Cameroon’s defence kept the two forwards quiet for most of the contest and prevented Malawi from completing an unexpected run to the title.
Ngah Manga had a chance to complete her hat-trick three minutes into the second half after going past Sikelo, but she fired wide from six yards with the goal open.
Malawi created its best opportunity shortly after the hour mark when Tabitha Chawinga’s low effort was saved by Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina. Temwa Chawinga collected the rebound but fired wide.
Cameroon had another chance late in the game when Eto’s effort from a narrow angle was saved, while Grace Mendoua headed a corner wide.
Substitute Gabrielle Onguene appeared to add a fourth in injury time, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The 37-year-old was booked for removing her shirt during the celebration.
Cameroon’s triumph came despite the team missing the 2024 WAFCON and initially failing to qualify for the 2026 tournament after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second-round qualifying tie.
The Indomitable Lionesses were subsequently admitted to the expanded 16-team tournament on the strength of their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) increased the finals from 12 teams.
Valentine Nguele, who took charge as Cameroon coach in June, guided the team past Nigeria in the quarter-finals and then beat Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals.
Bihina played a key role in both victories, making nine saves against Nigeria before keeping out an extra-time penalty and three spot-kicks in the shootout against Morocco.
The 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper had fewer interventions to make in the final as Cameroon controlled the contest.
Ngah Manga’s two goals took her tournament tally to five, putting her level with Temwa Chawinga and Barbra Banda.
“We are very happy,” Ngah Manga said on E4.
“We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions, we are very proud.”
Cameroon will join Malawi, Morocco, and Algeria at the 2027 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, with the four teams securing qualification through their WAFCON performances.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the trophy alongside CAF president Patrice Motsepe, while Cameroon also received $2m (£1.48m) in prize money.
