By 
RABAT, Morocco — After decades of near-misses and agonizing heartbreak, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have finally scaled the summit of African women’s football.
In a devastating display of clinical finishing and defensive steel, Cameroon stormed to a 3–0 victory over debutants Malawi at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday evening. The victory secures Cameroon’s first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, putting an end to a painful legacy of continental frustration.
Marie Ngah starred as the architect of victory, scoring twice on either side of a Naomi Ndjoah Eto strike to blow Malawi away before the halftime whistle even blew.
A First-Half Master-class
Both sides entered the decider hunting a maiden continental title. For Malawi’s Scorchers, it was the climax of an astonishing tournament debut. For Cameroon, it was an opportunity to shake off the ghost of three previous final defeats in 2004, 2014, and 2016—all lost to Nigeria.
Cameroon wasted no time taking control of their destiny. Settling into the match with composure and rhythm, the Lionesses struck first in the 20th minute when Ngah broke through Malawi’s backline to slot home the opening goal.
The early blow rattled the Scorchers. Renowned throughout the tournament for their fluid, high-scoring attack—spearheaded by prolific sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga—Malawi suddenly found themselves forced into unfamiliar territory, chasing a game against a team that had surrendered only two goals all tournament.
Ten minutes later, Cameroon extended their grip. Myriam Nyadjou carved open the Malawian defence with a sublime pass to set up Ndjoah Eto, who calmly converted in the 30th minute to make it 2–0.
Desperate to stem the tide, Malawi head coach made a tactical shift in the 43rd minute, bringing on Tiasha Sani for Chikondi Gondwe. However, the Lionesses were relentless. Deep into first-half stoppage time (45+3′), Ndjoah Eto turned provider, finding Ngah, who clinically bagged her brace and sent Cameroon into the locker rooms with an unassailable 3–0 lead.
Defensive Master-class Seals the Triumph
Faced with a mountainous second-half task, Malawi attempted to reignite the attacking flair that had seen them top the tournament scoring charts with 12 goals. But Cameroon’s backline, expertly managed by head coach Valentine Nguele, refused to yield an inch.
Executing a disciplined second-half performance, the Lionesses choked off the space for the Chawinga sisters and professionally managed the tempo. Even with tactical alterations off the bench from both managers, Cameroon comfortably neutralized every threat to keep a clean sheet through to the final whistle.
The victory completed a flawless knockout campaign for Cameroon, who did not concede a single goal across the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
From Last-Minute Entrants to Continental Champions
The triumph marks one of the most remarkable storylines in WAFCON history. The Indomitable Lionesses had not initially qualified for the tournament, earning their ticket only after CAF expanded the final competition to 16 teams.
They seized that second chance with both hands. Over the course of the tournament, Cameroon defeated Ghana in the group stage, eliminated 10-time champions Nigeria 1–0 in the quarter-finals, and outlasted hosts Morocco in a tense penalty shootout after a goalless semi-final.
By lifting the trophy, Cameroon becomes only the fourth nation ever to win the WAFCON title, joining an elite group alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.
For veteran figures like Captain Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné, the victory buries years of heartache. In their three prior final appearances, Cameroon had failed to score a single goal. On Sunday night in Rabat, they rewrote the narrative inside 48 blistering minutes.
Head-Headed Pride for Historic Malawi
While the night belonged to Cameroon, Malawi leaves Morocco with their heads held high. The Scorchers made history as the first Southern African debutants to reach the WAFCON final.
Following an electric campaign that included a 3–1 semi-final win over Algeria, Malawi captivated neutrals with their fearless, offensive football. Though Cameroon’s big-stage experience and defensive solidity ultimately proved insurmountable in the decider, Malawi’s run will stand as a landmark moment for women’s football in Southern Africa.
A decade after losing the 2016 final on home soil, Cameroon’s long wait is finally over: the Indomitable Lionesses stand proudly at the apex of African football.
