Cameroon finally captured their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final on Sunday.
The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant performance in Rabat, scoring all three goals before half-time to complete a historic breakthrough after three previous defeats in the final. Marie Ngah Manga was the star of the final, scoring twice, while Naomi Eto added the other goal as Cameroon took control of the contest early. Ngah opened the scoring before Eto doubled the advantage, with Ngah finding the net again shortly before the interval.
The three-goal first-half display effectively settled the contest and put Cameroon within touching distance of their long-awaited continental crown. The triumph ended a painful run of three final defeats for Cameroon. Their previous appearances in the WAFCON final had all ended in disappointment, with Nigeria defeating them on each occasion. Cameroon had also failed to qualify for the previous edition, making their return to the competition and subsequent title victory particularly significant for the team.
Malawi, playing in the tournament for the first time, had enjoyed a remarkable run to the final before encountering a Cameroon side that proved too strong on the night. The Malawian team had also relied heavily on the attacking threat of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga during the tournament, but Cameroon managed to keep the influential forwards relatively quiet in the decisive match. For Ngah, the victory represented the culmination of a difficult journey for Cameroon’s national team. After years of falling short against Africa’s most successful women’s football side, the Indomitable Lionesses finally converted their opportunity on the continent’s biggest stage.
Her two goals provided the foundation for a performance that gave Cameroon a comfortable advantage before the second half even began. The final was played in Rabat in the presence of prominent football officials, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe. The officials later participated in the medal ceremony for the leading teams. Algeria had defeated hosts Morocco in the third-place playoff on Saturday to finish third in the tournament. Cameroon’s achievement also brought individual recognition for Monique Ngock, who was named the tournament’s player of the tournament.
She joined her teammates in celebrating a title that had eluded the country across three previous final appearances. The 3-0 victory therefore delivered much more than another tournament success for Cameroon. It ended the team’s long wait for a WAFCON crown, overturned the disappointment of their previous final defeats and established the Indomitable Lionesses as African champions for the first time. Malawi, meanwhile, saw its historic debut campaign end with a runners-up finish after a memorable run to the final.