Cameroon claimed its first Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title by defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on August 16, 2026. The victory ended a 22-year drought for the Lionesses, who had reached the continental final in 2004, 2014, and 2016 without winning, losing each time to Nigeria.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with Naomi Najoah Eto doubling the lead nine minutes later. Ngah Manga added a second goal before halftime to seal the 3-0 result. According to Confederation of African Football (CAF) statistics, Cameroon became the fourth African nation to win the trophy, joining Nigeria with 10 titles, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.
Cameroon qualified for the expanded 16-team tournament after initially missing direct qualification. The Lionesses advanced through the group stage with a win over Ghana, eliminated defending champion Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals, and defeated host nation Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals.
Midfielder Monique Ngock, 21, was named Woman of the Competition for her performances throughout the tournament. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina earned the Best Goalkeeper Award following her role in the semi-final penalty shootout, while Ngah Manga received the Player of the Final award. Malawi's Temwa Chawinga won the Golden Boot with five goals in the tournament's debut appearance.
The final represented a historic moment for African women's football, as the first since 2022 to feature two teams competing in a WAFCON final for the first time. CAF noted the event highlighted the narrowing talent gap between African nations and growing support for women's football across the region.
