Michaely Bihina Is the Reason Cameroon Are One Win Away From Wafcon Glory

Cameroon have a goalkeeper who saves penalties like she's been doing it her whole life. Michaely Bihina is 22 years old, playing in her first Wafcon, and she's already the most talked-about player at the tournament.

Four penalties saved across the knockout rounds. Nine stops in a single match against Nigeria. Three clean sheets in five games. The numbers tell the story, but they don't quite capture just how much this young keeper has carried the Indomitable Lionesses on her back.

From Striker to Shootout Hero

Bihina didn't even start out as a goalkeeper. She was a striker in her youth, and it was only a coach's observation that she might be too tall for the position that sent her between the posts. Six months after making the switch, she was called up to the national team. That kind of rapid development doesn't happen by accident.

She moved to Portugal at 15, won a second-tier league title with Racing Power, then earned the top flight's best goalkeeper award the following season. By February this year she was at Benfica on a three-year deal, and she's already won a league and cup double with them. Cameroon's final against Malawi on Sunday is just the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable twelve months for her.

The Semi-Final Moment That Changed Everything

The win over Morocco was when Bihina truly announced herself to a wider audience. A tight, tense semi-final in Rabat went to extra time with very little between the sides. Then, in the 118th minute, Morocco won a penalty. Fatima Tagnaout stepped up with a chance to send the hosts to the final. Bihina dived right and pushed it away.

What made it even more striking was what she said afterwards. She'd studied Morocco's penalty takers throughout the competition. She went into that shootout with a plan. Sure enough, she saved three of the four penalties in the shootout to send Cameroon through 3-1. This wasn't luck. This was preparation meeting pressure.

What Cameroon Need to Complete the Job

Cameroon have reached three previous Wafcon finals and lost all three, every single one against Nigeria. They've already broken that particular curse by going through in the quarter-finals. Now they face a completely different kind of challenge in Sunday's final against debutants Malawi.

Malawi arrive with Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, who between them have contributed nine goals and assists in this tournament. Temwa leads the scoring charts with five goals. This isn't a side that will sit back and let Cameroon play. It sets up as a genuine final rather than a formality, and from a betting angle, Cameroon's solidity at the back against Malawi's attacking threat makes the over/under and both-teams-to-score markets worth a close look.

Cameroon have kept three clean sheets in five matches, largely because of Bihina. Malawi have been clinical going forward. Something has to give. We'd lean towards Cameroon winning the match but not keeping things entirely quiet at the back, which makes a Cameroon win with both teams to score a live option at what should be decent odds.

Our Call

Bihina is the best player at this tournament. She's composed, she's done her homework, and she plays with a maturity that makes you forget she's only 22 and playing in her first Wafcon. Cameroon are in the final because of her, and we think they'll go all the way.

Malawi will carry the underdog buzz and the Chawinga sisters will cause problems, but Cameroon have too much experience and too good a goalkeeper to fall short at the final hurdle. Back the Indomitable Lionesses to lift the trophy, and keep an eye on Bihina for player of the tournament. She's earned it.