Cameroon Make History, Win First WAFCON Title After Defeating Malawi
Indomitable Lionesses beat debutants 3–1 in historic Morocco 2026 final
Cameroon have been crowned champions of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after defeating debutants Malawi 3–1 in a historic final in Rabat, Morocco.
The Indomitable Lionesses secured their first-ever WAFCON title with a dominant performance at the Stade Moulay Hassan on Sunday, August 16, bringing an unforgettable tournament to a dramatic conclusion.
Cameroon entered the final as four-time WAFCON finalists but had never lifted the continental trophy. Their route to the final had already included a major upset over defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals before they eliminated hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-final.
Malawi, meanwhile, had produced one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
Making their debut at the WAFCON finals, the Scorchers progressed all the way to the championship match after defeating established African sides on their historic run.
The final represented a clash between experience and ambition: Cameroon were chasing their first continental crown after several near misses, while Malawi were attempting to complete one of the greatest underdog stories in African women’s football.
Cameroon ultimately prevailed 3–1, with Marie Ngah scoring twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto adding another goal as the Indomitable Lionesses established a commanding lead.
The victory marks a landmark moment for Cameroonian women’s football and ends years of disappointment in the continental championship.
For Malawi, the defeat does little to diminish what has been a remarkable debut campaign. The Scorchers became the first Malawian women’s team to reach a WAFCON final, announcing themselves as a major emerging force in African women’s football.
The 2026 tournament produced several major surprises, including Malawi’s extraordinary run and the elimination of defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals. Hosts Morocco also fell short after Cameroon defeated them in a dramatic semi-final penalty shootout.
Cameroon’s triumph therefore completes one of the most remarkable WAFCON stories in recent years: from four-time finalists without a title to African champions for the first time.
The victory also signals a changing landscape in African women’s football, with traditional powerhouses facing increasingly strong competition from nations investing in the development of the women’s game.
For Cameroon, however, the night belongs to the Indomitable Lionesses — WAFCON champions at last.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.