African Women's Football History
Cameroon Leads Malawi 2-0 in WAFCON Final with Maiden Title on the Line
Key Points
Malawi's route to the final has been remarkable, including knockout wins over Ghana and Algeria to reach the final.
Cameroon advanced to the final by defeating Nigeria in the quarter-finals and host Morocco in the semi-finals, while their defense has been stingy (two goals conceded) with three clean sheets; goalkeeper Michaela Bihina delivered a standout semi-final performance, saving three penalties in the shootout.
The prize money on offer for the final is substantial: $2 million for the winners and $750,000 for the runners-up.
Temwa Chavinga (Temwa Chawinga) and Tabitha Chavinga have been Malawi's leading scorers in the tournament, with Temwa scoring five goals and Tabitha four as Malawi advanced to the final.
This final would crown a maiden African women's champion, with neither Cameroon nor Malawi having previously won the WAFCON; the winner would become only the fourth nation to be crowned.
Cameroon has won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on August 16. BBC reported that Marie Ngah Manga and Naomi Eto scored for the Indomitable Lionesses, ending Cameroon's long wait for a first continental crown after three previous runner-up finishes.
The result also writes history for Malawi, who reached their first-ever WAFCON final. But it was Cameroon's night. According to CAF Online, Ngah Manga scored twice — a brace that bookended a goal from Naomi Ndjoah Eto — to seal a dominant 3-0 win and make Cameroon only the fourth nation ever to be crowned African women's champions.
Marie Ngah Manga's Brace Settles the Final
Ngah Manga opened the scoring with a close-range header, according to Yahoo News. She then added a second to put the game beyond Malawi's reach. Sandwiched between her two goals was a volley from Naomi Eto that made it 2-0. The three goals came in a commanding display that left Malawi with no path back into the match.
CAF Online noted that Ngah Manga's brace was the defining moment of the final. Cameroon's experience in big matches showed throughout. They had already beaten Nigeria in the quarter-finals and host Morocco in the semi-finals. Their route to the title was built on a stingy defense that conceded just two goals across the entire tournament.
Bihina's Heroics and a Defense That Held Firm
Goalkeeper Michaela Bihina was central to Cameroon's run. She saved three penalties in the semi-final shootout against Morocco — a performance that kept Cameroon alive when it mattered most. The Lionesses kept three clean sheets in the tournament. Only two goals got past them all competition long, a record that set the tone for their title charge.
Cameroon's defensive discipline stood in sharp contrast to the attacking flair that powered their opponents. Malawi's Temwa Chawinga scored five goals in the tournament and Tabitha Chawinga added four, giving the pair a combined tally of nine goals. Malawi's total of 12 goals in the competition showed they were no passengers — but Cameroon's backline proved too solid in the final.
Malawi's Historic Run Ends in Rabat
Malawi's appearance in the final was itself a landmark moment. They knocked out Ghana and Algeria on their way to the decider. They also upset Nigeria — one of the continent's powerhouses — to reach this stage. No Malawian side had ever gone this far in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations before.
The Chawinga sisters powered much of that run. Temwa and Tabitha combined for nine of Malawi's 12 tournament goals. Their threat was real and their journey captured attention across the continent. But the final proved a step too far against a Cameroon side with deeper experience on the biggest stage.
$2 Million Prize and a New Era in African Women's Football
The stakes were high beyond the trophy. The winners took home $2 million in prize money. The runners-up received $750,000. Those figures signal how much CAF has invested in growing the women's game across Africa.
Cameroon's win makes them only the fourth nation to claim the WAFCON title. Daily Sports and Citizen Digital both confirmed the 3-0 scoreline, calling it a historic first for the Indomitable Lionesses. After finishing as runners-up three times, Cameroon finally have their name on the trophy — and African women's football has a new champion.
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