Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi on Sunday to win their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, ending the Scorchers’ remarkable run to the final.
Marie Ngah Manga put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute with a close-range header before Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley 10 minutes later at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Eto then turned provider in first-half stoppage time, rounding Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo before setting up Ngah Manga for her fifth goal of the tournament.
The victory ended Cameroon’s wait for a first Wafcon crown after three previous final defeats, in 2004, 2014 and 2016, all against Nigeria.
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world and the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, had reached the final on the strength of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.
The Scorchers had stunned some of Africa’s strongest sides on their way to the final, beating Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana to secure a historic first appearance at the continental showpiece.
But Cameroon kept the Chawinga sisters largely quiet, denying Malawi the attacking space that had helped drive their unexpected campaign.
Ngah Manga missed an opportunity to complete her hat-trick three minutes after halftime when she rounded Sikelo but fired wide from close range.
Malawi came closest to reducing the deficit shortly after the hour mark when Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina saved Tabitha Chawinga’s low effort. Chawinga then fired the rebound wide.
Bihina was one of the outstanding players of Cameroon’s campaign, producing crucial performances against Nigeria in the quarter-finals and Morocco in the semi-finals. She saved a penalty in extra time against Morocco before stopping three spot-kicks in the ensuing shootout.
Cameroon were rewarded with $2 million in prize money and became only the fourth country to win the Wafcon, after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o celebrated wildly from the stands as the final whistle prompted players, coaches and officials to rush onto the pitch.
“We are very happy,” Ngah Manga said. “We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions we are very proud.”
Cameroon midfielder Monique Ngock was named the tournament’s best player, while Bihina received the best goalkeeper award.
Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga won the Golden Boot after scoring five goals and providing two assists. She finished ahead of Zambia’s Barbra Banda, Ivory Coast’s Ines Konan and Cameroon’s Ngah Manga, who also scored five goals but had fewer assists.
Algeria received the Fair Play award.
Cameroon and Malawi will both feature at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow Wafcon semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.
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