Full Breakdown
Cameroon clinches first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating Malawi 3-0
8/17/2026, 2:00:42 AM
The Final Showdown
On Sunday at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses secured a 3-0 victory over debutants Malawi to capture their inaugural Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown. Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute, Naomi Ndjoah Eto added a second ten minutes later, and Ngah completed her brace in first-half stoppage time. All three goals came before the interval, leaving Malawi unable to recover in the second half.
Road to the Final
Cameroon entered the 2026 tournament after initially missing qualification; they were admitted when CAF expanded the competition from 12 to 16 teams. Their path featured a group-stage win over Ghana, a 1-0 quarter-final upset of ten-time champions Nigeria, and a penalty-shootout triumph over hosts Morocco in the semi-final. Malawi, playing their first WAFCON, topped Group C with wins over defending champions Nigeria and Egypt, then defeated Ghana and Algeria to become the first Southern African debutants to reach the final.
Key Players
- Marie Ngah Manga – striker, two goals in the final and five in the tournament, Player of the Match.
- Naomi Ndjoah Eto – forward, scored the second goal and assisted Ngah’s third; later signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
- Michaely Bihina – goalkeeper, recorded twelve saves across Cameroon’s two knockout matches, including three penalty saves against Morocco.
- Valentine Nguele – head coach, appointed on June 12 2026.
- Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga – Malawi’s attacking sisters, combined for nine of Malawi’s twelve tournament goals.
Timeline of Milestones
- June 12 2026 – Cameroon Football Federation announced Nguele’s hiring.
- Early tournament – Cameroon’s defensive record: two goals conceded, three clean sheets; Malawi’s attacking record: twelve goals scored, seven conceded.
- August 16 2026 – Final match between Cameroon and Malawi at Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat.
Statistics
- Final score: Cameroon 3 – 0 Malawi.
- Goals: Ngah, Eto.
- Shots on target: Cameroon 7, Malawi 2.
- Clean sheets: Cameroon kept three in knockout rounds; Malawi kept none.
- Prize money: $2 million for the champion, $750 000 for the runner-up, $150 000 for other participants.
- World Cup qualification: Both finalists secured spots in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Official Statements & Responses
Cameroon coach Valentine Nguele emphasized a “final-like” approach to every knockout match, noting the team entered the final without pressure and focused on executing their game plan. Eto highlighted the squad’s collective strength, stating that the group’s cohesion outweighed individual talent.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the status of the August 16 2026 date. Several outlets describe the final as having taken place, while the provided date ledger lists it as “scheduled,” indicating a future event. No additional calendar details are supplied for earlier knockout matches, leaving precise dates for those fixtures unverified.
What’s Next
Cameroon and Malawi will represent Africa at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. CAF’s prize-money distribution will be finalized after the tournament, and both federations are expected to build on their 2026 performances in preparation for upcoming continental qualifiers and the next WAFCON cycle.
