Cameroon win first WAFCON title after beating Malawi 3-0

Cameroon have won their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after beating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in Rabat, Morocco.

Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a close-range header before Naomi Eto doubled Cameroon’s lead with a fine volley 10 minutes later.

Cameroon added a third goal in first-half stoppage time. Eto went around Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo before setting up Ngah Manga, who finished from close range.

Malawi, the lowest-ranked team at the tournament at 153rd in the world, had enjoyed a remarkable run to the final, helped by the goalscoring threat of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.

However, Cameroon kept the two forwards quiet for most of the match and stopped Malawi from completing a surprise run to the title.

Ngah Manga came close to completing her hat-trick three minutes into the second half, but she missed from six yards with the goal open.

Malawi had their best chance shortly after the hour mark when Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina saved Tabitha Chawinga’s low shot. Tabitha’s sister Temwa then fired the rebound wide.

Cameroon’s victory is even more impressive after they missed the 2024 Wafcon and initially failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament. They lost 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in the second qualifying round.

However, Cameroon were later included after CAF expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams, with their world ranking helping them secure a place.

The victory ends Cameroon’s wait after they had previously lost three Wafcon finals.

The Indomitable Lionesses will receive $2m (£1.48m) in prize money and become only the fourth country to win the women’s African title, after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

Cameroon and Malawi will also feature at the 2027 Women’s Fifa World Cup in Brazil, alongside WAFCON semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.