Cameroon Finally Break Through With First WAFCON Title

Cameroon finally have the continental crown they have spent decades chasing.

The Indomitable Lionesses defeated Malawi 3-0 in Sunday's 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat to win the tournament for the first time. Marie Ngah scored twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto added another as Cameroon settled the final with a dominant first-half display.

The victory is a landmark moment for Cameroonian women's football. Cameroon had previously reached the WAFCON final three times without winning it, including defeats to Nigeria in the 1991 and 2004 finals and to Nigeria again in the 2016 final. CAF's historical record lists Cameroon as runners-up three times before the 2026 tournament.

This time there was no late heartbreak.

Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Ndjoah Eto doubled Cameroon's advantage ten minutes later. Ngah struck again in first-half stoppage time to give Cameroon a three-goal cushion before the break.

For Malawi, the defeat ended an extraordinary first appearance at the tournament. The debutants had gone all the way to the final, giving the competition one of its biggest stories before meeting a Cameroon side that had finally turned repeated final appearances into a championship.

The result also closes an unusual chapter in the history of the competition. Nigeria entered the tournament as the defending champions and record holders with 10 WAFCON titles, but Cameroon became the new champions after the expanded 16-team edition in Morocco.

For Cameroon, the wait is over. The Indomitable Lionesses are African champions for the first time.