Cameroon crowned WAFCON 2026 champions after historic victory

by Chumasande Matiwane

Cameroon have been crowned champions of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), defeating Malawi 3–0 in a commanding final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, 16 August 2026.

Also see: WAFCON 2026 kicks off with a bang

Ngah leads Cameroon to glory

The triumph marks a historic moment for the Indomitable Lionesses, who have finally claimed their first WAFCON title after three previous defeats in the final.  

Marie Ngah was the star of the final, scoring twice as Cameroon took control of the contest in the first half. Naomi Ndjoah Eto added another goal as the Lionesses produced a dominant performance against tournament debutants Malawi. 

The result gave Cameroon a convincing 3–0 victory and ended decades of frustration in Africa’s premier women’s international competition. 

For Cameroon, this was their fourth appearance in a WAFCON final. Previous final defeats had come in 1991, 2004 and 2014, making Sunday’s victory particularly significant for a generation of players determined to change the country’s history in the competition. 

Cameroon’s route to the final was anything but straightforward. The Lionesses had originally missed out on qualification before CAF expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams, giving Cameroon a second opportunity to participate. They made the most of it. 

Also see: SA excited to see sports fan Rory Petzer make ‘lucky fan’ list

Both teams made history

Before the final, CAF noted that neither Cameroon nor Malawi had previously won the WAFCON title. Cameroon’s victory therefore made them the fourth different nation to win the competition, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. 

The achievement also meant that Cameroon have now won both the men’s Africa Cup of Nations and the women’s continental championship, a feat previously achieved only by Nigeria and South Africa. 

For the Indomitable Lionesses, the wait is finally over. 

After three painful final defeats, Cameroon have transformed disappointment into history. The 3–0 victory in Rabat will be remembered as the night the Lionesses finally became champions of Africa. 

Also see: Banyana Banyana qualify for WAFCON quarterfinals after dramatic group stage finish 

Featured image: X

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!