Cameroon Shatters WAFCON Final Jinx with Commanding 3-0 Victory Over Malawi
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses put an end to their long period of disappointment on Sunday, as they convincingly won against tournament dark horses Malawi 3-0 in the final match of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The team from Central Africa secured their first-ever continental crown after falling short of success in three previous finals matches. An impressive double from the attacking midfielder Marie Ngah, together with another goal scored by Naomi Eto, secured the victory for Cameroon even before halftime.
This win allows Cameroon to join only the exclusive club of four teams which have ever raised the WAFCON trophy, becoming one of those teams along with Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.
From the opening kickoff, Cameroon asserted tactical control over an inexperienced Malawian squad making its debut appearance in the marquee tournament. The pressure yielded results in the 20th minute when Ngah pounced on a loose rebound inside the penalty area to break the deadlock.
Ten minutes later, Eto doubled the advantage, finishing off a slick team combination that left Malawi’s defense stretched.
Malawi, ranked 153rd globally and entering the tournament as major underdogs, struggled to stem the tide. Their defense crumbled further deep into first-half stoppage time when Eto set up Ngah for her second goal, effectively sealing the contest before the break.
Although Malawi stabilized their defensive shape during the second half, they failed to create meaningful opportunities to threaten Cameroon’s lead.
Despite the loss, Malawi leaves Morocco having authored one of the most remarkable underdog stories in African football history, securing qualification for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup alongside Cameroon, host nation Morocco, and third-place finishers Algeria.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe presented the gold medals to the victorious Cameroonian team during the post-match ceremony.
Both regional and international governing bodies praised the overall quality of play throughout the tournament in North Africa, highlighting the rapid growth and rising competitiveness of women’s football across the continent ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
