Cameroon trounce Malawi 3-0 to claim first WAFCON title

Cameroon secured their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with a commanding 3-0 win over Malawi at the Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The Indomitable Lionesses showcased their dominance in the first half, netting three goals before halftime to end Malawi's hopes of a surprising WAFCON title victory. Although Malawi reached the final for the first time in their debut appearance, their ranking as the lowest-ranked nation at the tournament proved to be their downfall.

Cameroon, who did not qualify for WAFCON 2026 but were invited due to the tournament's expansion to 16 nations, claimed their place through their FIFA women’s world ranking. This victory marks a significant achievement for Cameroon, making them the fourth country to win the WAFCON title, following Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.

The Lionesses, who had never scored in their first three WAFCON finals, broke the deadlock in the 20th minute through Marie Ngah Manga's header. They further extended their lead on the 30th minute with Naomi Eto's precise volley. Just before halftime, Ngah Manga added her second goal of the tournament and her fifth of the season, finishing a team move to secure the third goal.

With this win, Cameroon became the first country to claim the WAFCON title after missing out on qualification through the standard group qualifiers, instead earning their spot via their FIFA women’s world ranking. This victory also makes Cameroon only the second Central African nation to win the WAFCON title, following Equatorial Guinea's triumph in 2012.