Cameroon claimed their first-ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Sunday, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final. Marie Ngah scored a first-half brace, playing a pivotal role in the emphatic victory over the surprise finalists.
This marked Cameroon's fourth appearance in a WAFCON final, having lost all previous attempts. This time, fortune favored them, while Malawi—making their continental championship debut—enjoyed a remarkable run through the group stage and knockout rounds to reach the final. Malawi is currently ranked 153rd in the world and 32nd in Africa.
With this result, both Cameroon and Malawi have secured qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, joining the other semifinalists, Morocco and Algeria, who finished third after winning a penalty shootout on Saturday.
Amid external pressures, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented medals to the Cameroonian players, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in attendance. Several players seized the opportunity to take photos with Infantino, who enjoys strong support from Africa ahead of his re-election campaign in March, despite controversies surrounding proposals to sell stakes in future World Cups.
Cameroon dominated the first half, taking a 3-0 lead into the break. In the 20th minute, Ngah reacted quickly to a rebound in the box to open the scoring. Naomi Eto doubled the lead in the 30th minute, and in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Ngah completed her brace from Eto's assist, sealing the 3-0 win.
With this triumph, Cameroon became the fourth different nation to win the WAFCON since its inception in 1998. Nigeria holds the record with ten titles, while Equatorial Guinea has two and South Africa one.
