Cameroon Claim First WAFCON Title
Cameroon won the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time on Sunday, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat with a dominant first-half display led by a brace from Marie Ngah.
Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead in the 30th minute after being set up by Myriam Nyadjou. Ngah struck again in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, this time from an assist by Ndjoah Eto, to complete her brace and give the Indomitable Lionesses a commanding 3-0 advantage at the interval. The result made Cameroon only the fourth different nation to lift the continental trophy, following Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa, and ended a sequence of three previous final defeats in 2004, 2014 and 2016.
The final pitted two sides seeking a first African title against each other. Malawi were attempting to complete a remarkable debut campaign, while Cameroon sought to convert years of near-misses into silverware. Cameroon settled more quickly. After an energetic opening, Ngah’s breakthrough immediately altered the contest. Malawi, whose attacking strength had been a feature of the tournament, were forced to chase the game against a side that had built its run on defensive discipline and efficiency.
Ten minutes later Nyadjou created the opening for Ndjoah Eto to make it 2-0. Malawi introduced Tiasha Sani for Chikondi Gondwe shortly before the break, yet Cameroon produced a further decisive move deep into stoppage time. Ndjoah Eto, already on the scoresheet, turned provider for Ngah’s second goal at 45+3, leaving the Scorchers needing an extraordinary recovery.
Cameroon’s defence, which had conceded only twice before the final, remained solid after the interval. Malawi made further changes in an effort to revive the contest, but the Indomitable Lionesses controlled the second half with the security of their three-goal cushion. Coach Valentine Nguele was able to manage the closing stages with substitutions while the back line prevented any consolation goal.
The final whistle brought an emotional end to a remarkable campaign for Cameroon. The Indomitable Lionesses had not originally qualified for the expanded 16-team tournament but made full use of their opportunity. They defeated Ghana in the group stage, eliminated 10-time champions Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals and overcame hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties after a goalless semi-final. Their knockout run was completed without conceding a single goal.
Malawi’s campaign remains historic despite the defeat. Playing at the WAFCON for the first time, the Scorchers became the first Southern African debutants to reach the final and entered the match as the tournament’s leading scorers with 12 goals, driven by the Chawinga sisters. Cameroon’s experience, organisation and clinical finishing proved decisive in Rabat. Ten years after losing the 2016 final on home soil, the Indomitable Lionesses finally stand at the summit of African women’s football.
