Story perspectives

Cameroon wins first Women’s Africa Cup, beats Malawi 3-0

8/20/2026

Summary

Cameroon Clinches Title

Cameroon won its first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, beating Malawi 3-0 in Rabat on Sunday.
Marie Ngah Manga’s two goals and Naomi Ndjoah Eto’s 30-minute volley gave Cameroon the lead.
Coach Valentine Nguele became the tournament’s fifth female coach to claim the title.
Cameroon kept a clean sheet in every knockout round, conceding only two goals in the group stage.

Summary

Cameroon Triumphs

CAF's last-minute decision to expand the Women's Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams reshaped the tournament lineup.
The change let Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, eliminated in qualifiers, qualify via ranking and win the title.
All four semi-finalists – Cameroon, Morocco, Malawi and Algeria – secured 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup places, debuting Malawi and Algeria.
Nigerian referee Yemisi Eunice Akintoye officiated the Algeria-Malawi semi-final, reflecting rising continental recognition of Nigeria’s officials.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, Nigeria secured its fifth African Women’s Championship crown, beating Ghana 2-0 in Abuja and cementing continental dominance. The Nigerian Football Federation allocated $1.2 million to women’s programs, raising registered players by 30 % and prompting CAF to consider broader reforms. Today, CAF’s 2024 expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams let Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, previously eliminated, qualify and win their first title. Consequently, four nations—Cameroon, Morocco, Malawi and Algeria—earned 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup berths, echoing 2002’s catalyst for broader African investment.

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Cameroon Clinches Title

Cameroon won its first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, beating Malawi 3-0 in Rabat on Sunday.
Marie Ngah Manga’s two goals and Naomi Ndjoah Eto’s 30-minute volley gave Cameroon the lead.
Coach Valentine Nguele became the tournament’s fifth female coach to claim the title.
Cameroon kept a clean sheet in every knockout round, conceding only two goals in the group stage.

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