Three-star Cameroon crowned WAFCON champions with victory over Malawi

Marie Gisele Manga scored a brace in 20th and 45th minutes as Naomi Eto scored one in the 29th minute to hand Cameroon its first African Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 3-0 win against debutants Malawi in the final match played on Sunday, August 16 at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat Morocco.

This is the first ever continental title for the West African giants who have qualified for three final and lost all to Nigeria.

They played their first final in 2004 2014 and 2016 in their backyard in Yaoundé but 2026 has been their year.

Malawi kicked off the match with a bang as Chikodi Gondwe missed a clear opportunity in the 15th minute after her shot was cleared by Cameroonian keeper Michaely Bihiha.

Before scoring the second, Eto has a one on one chance in the 28th minute, but she shot wide oy to see the net a minute late after converting a corner kick from Achta Njoya.

After the second goal Cameroon took control of the match as Malawi was forced to play defensive match to defend more harm in their goalkeeper. The pressure forced head coach Lovemore Faizli to make an early substitute in the 42nd minute as he brought in Tendai Sani for Chikondi Gondwe.

However the absence of Malawi midfielder Rose Kadzere was heavily felt as Faith Chanzimu was tight marked shaking the department. Kadzere the Montpellier midfielder who scored twice en route to the final was send off in the semi-final win over Algeria, so she was serving an automatic suspension.

In second half Cameroon started from where the left as they increased more pressure in Malawi goal as Marie Manga missed another clear opportunity in the 48th minute after she was left on eon one with keeper Mercy Sikelo but she missed the opportunity.

Malawi had another opportunity in the 61st minute after skipper Tabitha Chawinga delivered as shot but was saved by keeper Bihiha.

Coach Valentine Nguele made her first change in the 70th minute replacing Genevieve Mbeleck with Fadimatou Kome which brought more pressure in Malawi goal.

The Scorchers were playing in their very first Women's AFCON finals and, at the start of the tournament, were ranked 153rd in the FIFA rankings - the lowest of the 16 teams competing in Morocco. Despite losing the fainal, they have write history for qualifying in the 2027 FIFA World Cup to be held in Brazil.

On Saturday, Morocco suffered more penalty shootout heartache in the losing 3-2 to Algeria after a 1-1 draw in the third place play-off.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino led other dignitaries in enjoying the final together with his Caf counterpart Patrice Motsepe, Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Ngute, Cameroon Football Federation Fecafoot Samuel Eto and his Morocco counterpart Fouzi Lekjaa.

The win handed Cameroon a record-breaking $2 million USD as the first runners up Algeria pocketed 750,000 USD while the host Morocco runners up walked away with 550,000 USD.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) introduced a major financial boost for this edition, doubling the champions' prize money from the previous tournament's $1 million reward.