Cameroon finally climbed to the top of African women’s football with a stunning 3-0 win over Malawi in Rabat. Three first-half goals ended years of final heartbreak and turned the Indomitable Lionesses into champions for the first time.
Cameroon started with purpose and quickly put Malawi under pressure. Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo could only push Grace Mendoua’s cross onto the bar.
Ten minutes later, Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead with a superb scissors kick. Malawi had entered the final with the tournament’s best attack, led by sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, but Cameroon’s defence gave them little room to breathe.
The damage was almost complete before half-time. Eto raced clear after a mistake from Sikelo and calmly set up Ngah Manga, who finished in the 45+3rd minute to complete her brace and send Cameroon into the break 3-0 ahead.
That first half showed the difference between the two teams. Malawi had impressed with their attacking football throughout their debut WAFCON campaign, but Cameroon were sharper, calmer and far more clinical when chances arrived.
The Scorchers tried to respond after the break. Temwa Chawinga came close, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina stood firm as the Lionesses controlled the game and protected their advantage.
The triumph carries huge weight for Cameroon. They had lost three previous WAFCON finals to Nigeria, in 2004, 2014 and 2016, with the 2016 defeat coming on home soil.
This time, there was no heartbreak. Cameroon had also eliminated Nigeria and hosts Morocco on their way to the final, and they completed their knockout run without conceding a goal.
For Malawi, the defeat ended a remarkable debut. The Scorchers had reached the final after beating Algeria and had become the first Southern African debutants to reach the title match.
For Cameroon, though, this was the night the past finally lost its grip. The Lionesses did not just win the trophy, they changed their history.
