The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have captured their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown, defeating Malawi’s Scorchers 3–0 in a commanding final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium. Three first‑half strikes sealed the historic triumph, ending years of near misses after failed attempts in 2004, 2014, and 2016.
On a night when the Lionesses delivered their finest performance of the tournament, they dominated from start to finish. Ngah Manga struck twice in the 20th and 45th minutes, while Naomi Eto added another in the 29th, capping a flawless display. Having already dispatched record champions Nigeria earlier in the competition, Cameroon’s tactical discipline and relentless execution nullified Malawi’s threat.
The Scorchers had entered the final on the back of a fairytale run, stunning Nigeria and Ghana en route, with the prolific Chawinga sisters—Temwa and Tabitha—accounting for eight of their 11 goals. They began brightly, testing the Cameroonian defence, but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Michaely Bihina’s heroics. By the 18th minute, however, the tide had turned, and the Lionesses seized control, shackling Malawi’s attacking duo and dismantling their defence with ruthless precision.
Not only was the Chawinga sisters’ inability to score frustrating, their goalkeeper, Mercy Sikelo’s errors on a night when she was expected to be at her best, let her side down. Her mistakes and poor anticipation resulted in all three goals.
In the second half, Tewma and Tabitha tried to find other ways to get a goal past Bihina, but she remained resolute, proving why she was the best at the tournament. Manga almost made it 4-0, and that would have made her joint top scorer on five goals, but her third goal was disallowed in the dying minutes of the game.
Although they were disappointed by one particular call, the Cameroonian players made it clear that they had truly earned their WAFCON glory. When the final whistle blew, the joy and celebrations on the pitch and in the stands were completely justified. Their federation President, Samuel Eto’o Fils, could hardly contain his happiness as he joined the team in their celebrations following the presentation of the trophy.
The Lionesses’ final performance marked a perfect culmination of an impressive campaign, where they achieved five wins and one draw in six matches throughout the tournament. They secured victories against Mali (2-1) and Ghana (1-0) during the group stages, and managed a draw with Cabo Verde (1-1). They then advanced to the knockout rounds, winning against Nigeria (1-0) and triumphing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals through penalties, beating Morocco 3-1.
Source: Rosalind K. Amoh
