2026 WAFCON: Cameroon lift first-ever title as Malawi fairytale ends in heartbreak
By Luke Oluoch, August 17, 2026The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 to win their first-ever WAFCON title in Morocco on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Marie Ngah led a dominant performance to bring the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to a glorious close, ending Cameroon’s two-decade wait for continental glory, a period that saw them fall short in three previous finals.
End of Malawi’s fairy tale run
Debutants Malawi defied expectations as the lowest-ranked nation at the tournament, enjoying a fairy-tale run to the final after eliminating defending champions Nigeria, along with Egypt, Ghana, and Algeria.
However, the Scorchers’ luck ran out in the final as the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, were unable to inspire a historic, record-breaking title victory on their maiden attempt.
Cameroon hit the front
Cameroon took the lead in the 20th minute when a cross was headed off Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and onto the crossbar, allowing Ngah to nod in the rebound.
The Indomitable Lionesses doubled their lead in the 29th minute when Eto struck a sublime swivelled shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Ngah scored her second three minutes into first-half injury time, heading home another cross from Eto.
Though Ngah had a chance to complete her hat-trick early in the second half, she fired wide after rounding Sikelo.
World Cup qualification
Malawi showed greater dominance as the second half progressed, with Temwa dragging a low shot just wide following a goalmouth scramble.
The victory made Cameroon just the fourth different nation to win the WAFCON, after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa. The team also joined the exclusive list of African nations that have lifted both the men’s and women’s continental title.
By reaching the semi-finals, Cameroon, Malawi, third-placed Algeria, and Morocco all qualified directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Meanwhile, Africa’s total allocation could reach six teams, as losing quarter-finalists South Africa and Ghana secured spots in the intercontinental play-offs.