Bihina’s Heroics Send Cameroon to the Wafcon Final — and Change the Betting Picture Completely

Nobody saw this coming. Cameroon weren't even supposed to be at this tournament.

They failed to qualify through the normal route, only earning a spot after the Confederation of African Football expanded the field to 16 teams. They came in through the back door, ranked their way in, and now they're 90 minutes away from winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Africa sport doesn't get more dramatic than this.

Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was extraordinary in the semi-final against hosts Morocco. She saved a penalty in extra time, then kept out three more in the shootout to silence the Moulay Hassan Stadium. A 22-year-old from the Benfica setup in Cameroon just broke the host nation's heart in front of their own fans. That's the story.

How Morocco Let It Slip

Morocco had the ball. They had the crowd. They had everything you'd want as a host nation in a semi-final.

What they didn't have was a cutting edge, and that proved fatal. They hit the post early, created a flurry of late chances, and then had a golden opportunity handed to them via VAR in the 118th minute. A penalty. In extra time. At home. Tagnaout stepped up and rolled it straight at Bihina.

That moment told you everything about Morocco's mentality under pressure. This is the third Wafcon final in a row they've fallen short of, having lost last year's final after leading Nigeria 2-0 at half-time. Hiring Jorge Vilda, the Spain Women's World Cup-winning coach, was supposed to fix this. It hasn't. Not yet.

For bettors, Morocco's recurring issue in knockout football is now a pattern worth remembering. They dominate possession, they look the better side for long stretches, and then they freeze when it matters most.

Why Cameroon Are Worth Respecting on Sunday

Cameroon reached this final the hard way. Every single match has been a battle, and Bihina has been the difference. She made nine saves in the quarter-final win over Nigeria. Nine. Against 10-time continental champions. Then she did it again against Morocco.

Defensively, this side is organised and hard to break down. Coach Valentine Nguele only took charge in June, and in a matter of months she's built a unit that absorbs pressure and hits on the counter. Don't let the lack of big names fool you into dismissing them.

The key test on Sunday will be dealing with Malawi's Chawinga sisters. Tabitha and Temwa are the most dangerous attacking partnership left in this tournament, and if Cameroon give them space, they'll punish them. Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in the other semi-final and showed real attacking quality going forward.

This is genuinely a 50-50 final on paper, which is unusual for African women's football where bigger nations tend to dominate.

The Bigger Picture for Africa Sport

This final guarantees a first-time champion, and that matters beyond just Sunday's result. Africa sport at the women's level has historically been dominated by Nigeria, with 10 titles to their name. The fact that neither Nigeria nor Morocco, the two biggest investors in the women's game on the continent, will lift the trophy says a lot about where the power is shifting.

Malawi have the Chawingas. Cameroon have Bihina. Both teams have shown genuine resilience and tactical identity throughout this tournament. Neither is here by accident.

For a betting angle on Sunday's final, Cameroon to keep a clean sheet carries real weight given Bihina's form. Both teams to score feels tempting given Malawi's attacking threat, but Cameroon's defensive record in this tournament makes us lean the other way. If you're building an accumulator around the Wafcon final, consider Cameroon to win in extra time or on penalties, given how this tournament has gone for them.

Cameroon came through the back door. They might just leave through the front one, trophy in hand.