Cameroon have been crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions for the first time after defeating surprise finalists Malawi 3-0 in Sunday’s final.
The victory ended Cameroon’s long wait for the continental crown after the Indomitable Lionesses had previously lost three WAFCON finals.
Cameroon dominated the match from the opening stages and produced a commanding first-half performance that effectively settled the contest before the break.
Marie Ngah opened the scoring after 20 minutes, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area to give Cameroon the lead.
The Indomitable Lionesses doubled their advantage around the half-hour mark when Naomi Eto found the back of the net, putting Cameroon firmly in control.
Malawi struggled to contain Cameroon’s attacking pressure and were hoping to reach halftime without further damage. However, Ngah struck again in the third minute of added time, completing her brace from an Eto assist and sending Cameroon into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Despite Malawi’s remarkable run to the final, the debutants were unable to produce another upset against a dominant Cameroon side.
The result marks a historic moment for Cameroon, who become only the fourth different nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations since the competition began in 1998.
Nigeria remain the most successful team in the tournament’s history with 10 titles, followed by Equatorial Guinea with two and South Africa with one.
Both Cameroon and Malawi had already secured qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, alongside fellow semifinalists Morocco and Algeria. Algeria finished third after defeating their opponents on penalties in Saturday’s bronze-medal match.
The trophy presentation saw FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe join the celebrations as Cameroon received their medals.
For Cameroon, however, the focus remained firmly on the achievement on the pitch: after years of coming close, the Indomitable Lionesses finally have their first WAFCON crown.
