Cameroon Claims First Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Title with 3-0 Victory Over Malawi

RABAT, Morocco — Cameroon captured its inaugural Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Sunday, overpowering Malawi 3-0 in a dominant first-half performance at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium. The victory concluded an impressive campaign for the Indomitable Lionesses, who had previously been three-time finalists but had never secured the trophy.

Cameroon’s path to the championship included noteworthy wins against last year’s finalists, Nigeria and Morocco. In the final, they swiftly dismantled Malawi’s fairy-tale run, which saw the team reach the finals despite being ranked 153rd in the world at the tournament’s start. The decisive scoring came from Marie Ngah Manga, who netted two goals, and a remarkable scissors kick from Naomi Eto.

The match began with Cameroon displaying a more aggressive offensive strategy compared to their earlier knockout games. Malawi faced difficulties containing Cameroon’s attacks, particularly from Ngah Manga and Eto. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, recently recognized as Player of the Match in previous rounds, made key saves early on, including denying a shot from tournament top scorer Temwa Chawinga.

Cameroon’s first goal came in the 20th minute due to an error by Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo, who failed to handle a cross from Grace Mendoua, resulting in Ngah Manga’s close-range header. Despite Malawi’s efforts to equalize, they faltered defensively, leading to Eto doubling the lead with a spectacular scissors kick at the half-hour mark from a corner.

Malawi’s Tough Journey

Though Malawi struggled in the final, they completed a remarkable debut tournament, having defied expectations by reaching the final round. A defensive miscommunication led to a third goal just before halftime when Sikelo misjudged a play, allowing Eto to assist Ngah Manga for a tap-in.

After halftime, Malawi attempted to mount a comeback, sending an early chance just wide. Despite some vulnerable moments from Cameroon, including a missed opportunity from Ngah Manga who faced an open goal, they managed to maintain control as Malawi fatigued. A VAR check for a penalty for Cameroon yielded no results, allowing the Indomitable Lionesses to sustain their lead.

In the closing minutes, veteran Gabrielle Onguene, previously in the 2016 final loss to Nigeria, entered as a substitute and nearly added to the scoreline by racing through the Malawi defense, only to have her last-minute goal disallowed for offside.

Cameroon’s victory marks a historic achievement in women’s football for the nation, ending their title drought while Malawi’s commendable journey remains a noteworthy tale of perseverance in the competition.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn