Cameroon secures inaugural WAFCON championship with 3-0 victory over Malawi

Cameroon made history on Sunday by defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, claiming their first-ever title in the process.

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The scoring was initiated by Marie Ngah Manga, who headed the ball into the net from close range in the 20th minute, thereby giving the Indomitable Lionesses the lead.

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Naomi Eto further extended Cameroon's advantage just 10 minutes later with a remarkable volley, and she also set up Ngah Manga for her second goal in first-half stoppage time, as reported by BBC on Sunday.

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Malawi, participating in the tournament for the first time, found it challenging to penetrate Cameroon's defence, which proved to be a significant obstacle throughout the match.

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The Scorchers had heavily relied on the sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga during their impressive run to the final, but the duo was largely subdued by Cameroon's defensive strategy.

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Early in the second half, Ngah Manga had the opportunity to complete her hat-trick but unfortunately fired the ball wide after rounding Malawi's goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo.

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Malawi came close to scoring a goal after the hour mark when Tabitha Chawinga's effort was saved by Cameroon's goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, and Tabitha then fired the rebound wide.

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The victory signifies a remarkable turnaround for Cameroon, who had missed the 2024 WAFCON and initially failed to qualify for the 2026 finals after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria.

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Cameroon secured their place at the expanded 16-team tournament through their world ranking, and they have now become the fourth nation to win the continental title, following in the footsteps of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.

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The champions will join Malawi, Algeria, and Morocco at the 2027 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, marking a significant milestone in their football history.