Cameroon Win First Wafcon Title: What Their Triumph Tells Us About African Women’s Football

Cameroon are champions of Africa. A 3-0 win over tournament debutants Malawi in Rabat sealed the Indomitable Lionesses' first ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations title, and it wasn't particularly close.

For anyone who follows Africa sport closely, this result felt both surprising and completely logical at the same time. Surprising because Cameroon didn't even qualify for the 2024 edition and only made it to this tournament through a Caf ranking exemption after the finals expanded from 12 to 16 teams. Logical because, once they arrived, Valentine Nguele's side looked sharper, more organised and more ruthless than anyone else in the competition.

The Goalkeeper Who Won A Tournament

Before we talk about the final, we need to talk about Michaely Bihina. The 22-year-old Benfica shot-stopper is the reason Cameroon are champions.

Nine saves against Nigeria in the quarter-finals. An extra-time penalty save plus three more in the shootout against Morocco. By the time the final came around, Bihina barely had to break a sweat because Cameroon's outfield players had the game wrapped up before half-time.

When a goalkeeper wins you a tournament almost single-handedly, that's a player to watch for years. Her performances in Rabat weren't just impressive for Africa sport standards. They'd stand up anywhere.

How Ngah Manga Made The Final Her Own

Marie Ngah Manga was the sharp end of everything Cameroon did well. Her close-range header in the 20th minute settled any nerves, and she added a second before the break after Naomi Eto did the hard work to get to the byline and cut the ball back.

Five goals at the tournament. She missed a near-certain hat-trick chance three minutes into the second half, going past the keeper but firing wide from six yards with the goal open. The golden boot situation gets messy because of that miss, but the bigger picture is clear. Ngah Manga is a proper finisher.

Eto deserves just as much credit. Her volley for the second goal was the kind of strike you replay three times. It was also her intelligent run and composure to round the keeper that created the third. She was everywhere.

The Chawinga Sisters And A Fairytale That Ran Out Of Road

Malawi's story was genuinely remarkable. The lowest-ranked side in the tournament at 153rd in the world, they reached the final on the back of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa. Both play in the Women's Super League in England. Both are dangerous, quick and difficult to contain when given space.

Cameroon didn't give them space. Monique Ngock sat deep enough in midfield to cut off the supply lines, and the Cameroon backline stayed compact and physical. Malawi's best moment came just after the hour mark when Tabitha forced a save from Bihina, and Temwa blazed the rebound wide. That was as close as it got.

When you're ranked 82 places below your opponents and your two best players are nullified, you're unlikely to win a final. The Scorchers gave everything, but Cameroon were simply better.

What This Means For Brazil 2027

All four Wafcon semi-finalists, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco and Algeria, will be at the Women's World Cup in Brazil next year. That's the biggest takeaway from this tournament for Africa sport as a whole.

The decision to expand the finals to 16 teams has been vindicated completely. Nigeria, who were knocked out by Cameroon in the quarter-finals, won't even be at the World Cup. That's a seismic shift. The traditional African powerhouses no longer have a free run, and smaller nations are genuinely closing the gap.

Algeria in particular look exciting. They've improved massively since the last Wafcon and making it to Brazil for the first time will be a massive moment for North African women's football.

For Cameroon, winning their first Wafcon title after losing three finals, all against Nigeria in 2004, 2014 and 2016, is a watershed moment. A coach who only took charge in June. A goalkeeper who saved a tournament. A striker who scored five goals. They'll arrive in Brazil as Africa's champions and with something to prove on a bigger stage.

Don't underestimate them when the World Cup draw comes around.