WAFCON 2026: Cameroon End 48-Year Wait With Historic Triumph Over Malawi
By Sedara PhilipÂ
Cameroon have finally reached the summit of African women’s football after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final of the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Sunday.
The Indomitable Lionesses delivered a commanding performance at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, scoring all three goals in a dominant first half to secure their first-ever WAFCON title.
Marie Ngah was the star of the final, scoring twice, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto also found the net as Cameroon ended decades of heartbreak on the continental stage.
Cameroon wasted little time asserting their authority and opened the scoring in the 20th minute.
Ngah finished clinically to give the Indomitable Lionesses the lead and set the tone for a dominant display.
Ten minutes later, Cameroon doubled their advantage. Myriam Nyadjou provided the assist for Ndjoah Eto, who calmly converted to put the favourites firmly in control at 2-0.
Malawi struggled to cope with Cameroon’s relentless attacking pressure as the Scorchers found themselves chasing the game.
The third goal arrived just before halftime.
In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Ngah completed her brace after being set up by Ndjoah Eto, sending Cameroon into the interval with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
With the three-goal cushion secured before the break, Cameroon effectively put the final beyond Malawi’s reach.
The triumph marks a historic breakthrough for the Indomitable Lionesses, who had previously suffered heartbreak in three WAFCON finals, losing to Nigeria in the 2004, 2014 and 2016 editions.
Their defeat in the 2016 final on home soil was particularly painful, but ten years later, Cameroon finally ended their wait for continental glory.
For Malawi, the result brings an end to a remarkable debut campaign. The Scorchers defied expectations throughout the tournament and became the first debutants to reach the WAFCON final, earning widespread admiration despite falling short at the final hurdle.
Cameroon’s victory also sees them become only the fourth nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa among the tournament’s champions.
After years of near misses, the Indomitable Lionesses can finally call themselves African champions.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
