Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.
The victory ended Cameroon’s long wait for continental success after three previous appearances in the final without winning the trophy.
Cameroon took control from the opening stages and scored all three goals before half-time.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close-range header.
Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s lead in the 29th minute with a fine finish after turning inside the Malawi defence.
Ngah Manga completed her brace in first-half stoppage time to give the Indomitable Lionesses a commanding advantage at the break.
“Cameroon produced a dominant display in Rabat, putting the final beyond Malawi’s reach with all three goals scored in a blistering first half.”
Malawi Struggle To Respond
Malawi, competing in the tournament for the first time, struggled to cope with Cameroon’s attacking intensity.
The Scorchers attempted to respond after the interval but could not find a way through Cameroon’s defence.
Cameroon managed the second half effectively and protected its three-goal lead until the final whistle.
“Tournament debutants Malawi struggled to cope with Cameroon’s attacking intensity as the Lionesses seized control from the opening stages and never looked back.”
The result gave Cameroon its first WAFCON trophy after three previous final defeats.
The team’s most recent final appearance before Sunday came in 2016, when Nigeria defeated the Indomitable Lionesses 1-0.
Cameroon had also reached the final in 1991 and 2004 but finished as runners-up on both occasions.
“The historic victory ends Cameroon’s long wait for WAFCON glory after three previous runners-up finishes.”
Malawi Make History Despite Defeat
Although Malawi lost the final, their campaign represented a major breakthrough in African women’s football.
The tournament debutants reached the final after defeating Algeria 3-1 in the semi-final.
Their run also included a 2-1 comeback victory over Ghana in the quarter-final, which secured Malawi’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Malawi became the first team to reach the WAFCON final in its debut appearance since the competition’s current format began.
Cameroon became the fourth country to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The final was played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Ngah Manga’s two goals also made her one of the defining players of the final, while Eto’s contribution helped Cameroon establish an unassailable first-half lead.
The victory gives Cameroon a new place in the history of African women’s football and ends the team’s wait for a major continental title.
