Cameroon beats Malawi 3-0 to win maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations title
Cameroon secured its first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with a 3‑0 victory over Malawi in Sunday’s final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Marie Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a header, Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead eight minutes later, and Ngah added her second before halftime to put the Indomitable Lionesses firmly in control.
The win ends a long wait for Cameroon, which had lost three previous WAFCON finals—all to Nigeria—most recently a 1‑0 defeat in 2016. It also caps a remarkable turnaround: the team initially failed to qualify for the expanded 16‑team tournament but earned a spot after the competition’s size increase. Cameroon conceded only two goals throughout the tournament and kept three clean sheets, combining defensive solidity with a clinical attack in the final.
For Malawi, the loss ends a historic debut campaign; the Scorchers became the first Southern African side besides South Africa to reach a WAFCON final after beating Algeria 3‑1 in the semifinals.
What does this mean for the future of women’s football in Africa? Will Cameroon build on this breakthrough to dominate upcoming qualifiers, or will traditional powerhouses like Nigeria and South Africa regain their edge?