Rabat, Morocco — Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have made history by winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time after a commanding 3-0 victory over Malawi in the 2026 final in Rabat, Morocco.
Cameroon produced a devastating first-half performance, scoring all three goals before the break to effectively settle the contest and leave Malawi with a mountain to climb.
Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring to give Cameroon an early advantage before Naomi Eto doubled the lead with an impressive swivelling finish.
Ngah Manga then completed her brace before half-time, sending the Lionesses into the interval with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Despite Malawi’s efforts to respond after the restart, Cameroon remained composed and defended their advantage to the final whistle, securing a historic continental triumph.
The victory ends Cameroon’s long wait for the WAFCON crown after three previous appearances in the final ended in disappointment.
The Lionesses had most recently reached the final in 2016, when they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria.
The 2026 triumph was particularly significant for veteran forward Gabrielle Onguene, 37, who was part of Cameroon’s 2016 final team. She came on as a substitute in stoppage time in Rabat, marking her eighth appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
For Cameroon, the victory represents the culmination of years of near misses and establishes the Indomitable Lionesses as continental champions for the first time.
Malawi, meanwhile, could take pride in a historic campaign that saw them reach the WAFCON final for the first time in their history. Their remarkable run ultimately ended with defeat against a clinical Cameroon side.
The triumph marks a landmark moment for women’s football in Cameroon and adds the country to the roll of honour of African women’s football champions.
After years of heartbreak and near misses, Cameroon have finally conquered Africa.
