By Tomiwa Jagunna
Cameroon etched their name into the history books by finally lifting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy after years of heartbreak on the continental stage. The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant performance against Malawi at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, cruising to a 3-0 victory in the final.
Marie Ngah Manga set Cameroon on their way in the 20th minute before Naomi Eto doubled the advantage, giving the Central Africans a commanding lead heading into the latter stages of the first half.
Cameroon showed no signs of slowing down as Ngah Manga struck again in stoppage time to complete her brace and effectively settle the contest. Malawi struggled to find a response after the break, with Cameroon’s organisation and experience keeping the Scorchers at bay. The triumph was particularly significant for Cameroon, who had previously suffered defeat in three WAFCON finals. After years of coming close, the Indomitable Lionesses finally broke their final hoodoo and secured a historic first continental crown.
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, Malawi can look back on a campaign that has transformed the profile of women’s football in the country. The Scorchers made history by reaching their first WAFCON final and announced themselves as a genuine force in African women’s football. Their remarkable run, coupled with qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, represents a major breakthrough and gives Malawi a platform to build on. Cameroon leave Morocco as champions.
