Cameroon WAFCON 2026: Historic 3-0 Win Over Malawi

The Cameroon WAFCON 2026 campaign ended in history on August 16, when the Indomitable Lionesses beat Malawi 3-0 in the final at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, to win the country’s first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. The win ended a 22-year wait for continental glory after three previous final defeats, all to Nigeria, in 2004, 2014 and 2016.

Quick Facts

• Final result: Cameroon 3-0 Malawi
• Date & venue: August 16, 2026, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco
• Goal scorers: Marie Ngah Manga (20’, 45+2’), Naomi Ndjoah Eto (30’)
• Best Player: Monique Ngock (Cameroon)
• Golden Boot: Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), 5 goals, 2 assists
• Player of the Final: Marie Ngah (Cameroon)
• Head coach: Valentine Nguele, first woman to coach Cameroon’s women’s team
• What’s next: Both finalists qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil

Cameroon WAFCON 2026 Final: How the Match Unfolded

Marie Ngah Manga put Cameroon ahead in the 20th minute, and Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead ten minutes later. Ngah struck again in first-half stoppage time to complete her brace and put the result out of reach before halftime. Cameroon went the entire tournament unbeaten, a run that included group-stage wins and knockout victories over two of the continent’s traditional powers.

Malawi, appearing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, had stunned Algeria on their way to the final but could not find an answer to Cameroon’s early dominance. Both finalists secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, joined by semifinalists Morocco and Algeria.

Cameroon’s Road to the Final

Cameroon’s route to the final ran through the tournament’s two strongest sides. The Lionesses eliminated defending champions Nigeria 1-0 in the quarterfinals on August 9, then edged host nation Morocco 3-1 on penalties in the semifinal on August 12 after 120 scoreless minutes. Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou converted their spot kicks to send Cameroon through, in a result the Confederation of African Football (CAF) called one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

The championship run was overseen by head coach Valentine Nguele, who took charge of the team on June 12, 2026, becoming the first woman to coach Cameroon’s senior women’s national side. Nguele guided the Lionesses through the tournament without a single loss, culminating in the country’s first major women’s football trophy.

Individual Honors: Ngock, Ngah and Chawinga

Cameroon dominated the tournament’s individual honors. Midfielder Monique Ngock was named Best Player of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, while Ngah, who scored five goals across the tournament, was named Player of the Final for her two-goal performance in the title match. Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga edged Ngah for the Golden Boot on assists, both forwards finishing with five goals, as Chawinga added two assists to Ngah’s tally.

Samuel Eto’o and FECAFOOT React

Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) and former captain of the men’s national team, watched the final from the stands before joining the players on the pitch at the final whistle. The win marked the first trophy for Cameroon since Eto’o took over as FECAFOOT president, a tenure that had drawn criticism over the federation’s handling of the men’s team. He later addressed the squad emotionally upon their return to Yaounde, saying the achievement had long been overdue.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe also congratulated the Lionesses, calling their run to the title historic in an official CAF statement.

Prize Money and the Road to the 2027 World Cup

The Confederation of African Football awarded Cameroon $2 million in prize money for the title, with runners-up Malawi receiving $750,000. The payouts reflect a sharply expanded prize pool for the 2026 tournament, which CAF increased by 67 percent to $5.8 million total, with all 16 participating nations guaranteed a minimum of $150,000 in participation funding.

The Cameroon WAFCON 2026 triumph caps a tournament marked by upsets, including Malawi’s run to the final and Cameroon’s own penalty-shootout win over host nation Morocco in the semifinals. It also gives the country its first-ever appearance at a Women’s World Cup, with the squad now shifting focus to preparations for Brazil 2027. For more coverage of the continent’s biggest matches, visit African Vibes’ Soccer section.