Cameroon won their first WAFCON title after defeating debutants Malawi 3-0 in Sunday’s final at Rabat, Morocco, convincingly. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice, while Naomi Eto added another goal as Cameroon produced a dominant first-half performance throughout Sunday’s decisive final.
The Indomitable Lionesses settled quickly, with Ngah opening scoring before Eto doubled their advantage nine minutes later during the thrilling encounter. Ngah struck again shortly before halftime, leaving Malawi facing an enormous challenge against Cameroon’s disciplined defensive structure throughout the match.
Malawi entered the final after a remarkable tournament debut, powered by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga’s outstanding attacking performances. Despite their courageous campaign, the Scorchers struggled to create clear opportunities against Cameroon’s organised defence throughout Sunday’s decisive final.
Cameroon’s victory ended three previous WAFCON final defeats, all against Nigeria, finally delivering continental glory after decades of disappointment. The triumph also established Cameroon as only the fourth nation to win Africa’s premier women’s football championship in history.
Nigeria remains the competition’s dominant force, while Equatorial Guinea and South Africa previously claimed the continental crown before Cameroon. Malawi’s runners-up finish nevertheless represents a historic achievement, especially after reaching their first major continental final during this tournament.
The Chawinga sisters remained central to Malawi’s success, with Temwa finishing among the tournament’s leading scorers after five goals. Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga also reached five goals, joining Temwa Chawinga and Barbra Banda among the competition’s leading scorers.
Beyond the trophy, both finalists secured places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil through their semifinal progress. Algeria and Morocco also qualified for Brazil after reaching the WAFCON semifinals, giving Africa four representatives at football’s global showcase.
For Cameroon, the WAFCON title completes an extraordinary turnaround after the team initially missed qualification before returning through ranking-based entry.
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