Full Breakdown
Historic WAFCON Final: Malawi vs Cameroon
8/16/2026, 8:24:40 PM
The Final Showdown
On Sunday, August 16, 2026, the Olympic Stadium in Rabat will host the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final between debutants Malawi Scorchers and four-time finalists Cameroon Indomitable Lionesses. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT).
Road to Rabat
Malawi entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked side (153rd) on July 26, 2026. In a “group of death” with Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt, the Scorchers beat Nigeria 3-2, Egypt 3-1 and topped the group. Quarter-final wins over Ghana (2-1) secured a semi-final berth and the nation’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification. In the semi-final on August 12, 2026, sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga scored all three goals in a 3-1 win over Algeria.
Cameroon’s path was unconventional. After losing the home-and-away qualifier to Algeria, CAF expanded the tournament and reinstated Cameroon (ranked 66th). The Lionesses then eliminated Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals and survived a goalless semi-final against hosts Morocco, winning 3-1 on penalties.
Key Players
- Tabitha Chawinga – captain, Lyon forward, four tournament goals.
- Temwa Chawinga – Kansas City Current forward, tournament-leading five goals.
- Michaely Bihina – 22-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper, three clean sheets and four penalty saves in the semi-final shoot-out.
Tournament Statistics
- Malawi: 12 goals scored, 7 conceded, no clean sheet.
- Cameroon: 5 goals scored, 2 conceded, three clean sheets, zero goals conceded in knockout rounds.
- Chawinga sisters combined for nine of Malawi’s 12 goals.
- Bihina recorded 12 saves across two knockout matches.
- Prize pool: USD 2 million for the champion, USD 750,000 for the runner-up.
Stakes and Significance
The final will produce the fourth different nation to win the WAFCON title since 1998. A victory would also make Cameroon the third country to hold both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations. For Malawi, the match offers a chance to become the first Southern African debutant to claim the crown.
Official Statements & Responses
CAF confirmed that the winner will receive the enlarged prize fund and that both finalists have already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Malawi’s federation highlighted the “unprecedented achievement” of reaching the final in their inaugural appearance. Cameroon’s sports ministry praised the “determination and resilience” of the Lionesses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Temwa and I will never succeed without our teammates. When everyone performs to the best of their ability we can succeed.” — Michaely Bihina
- “I have been in this coaching career for a long time and have achieved a lot,” — Lovemore Fazili, head coach
- “Now, only 90 minutes separate us from claiming the ultimate prize in African women's football.” — Peter Mutharika, Malawi’s president
What’s Next
Both nations will join Morocco and Algeria at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, having earned their spots through the tournament’s knockout stage. The final will be the last match of the 2026 WAFCON, concluding a competition that has reshaped African women’s football.
