Cameroon claim first Wafcon title with victory over Malawi.

Cameroon have won their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title after beating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco.

Marie Ngah Manga gives Cameroon the lead in the 20th minute with a close-range header before Naomi Eto doubles the advantage with a stunning volley on the half-hour mark.

The Indomitable Lionesses make it 3-0 in first-half added time when Eto rounds Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and crosses for Ngah Manga to score her fifth goal of the tournament.

Malawi, the lowest-ranked team at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reaches the final after an impressive run led by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. However, the Cameroon defence keeps the two Scorchers stars under control and denies Malawi a fairytale ending.

Ngah Manga comes close to completing her hat-trick three minutes into the second half but fires wide from six yards after going past Sikelo.

Malawi creates its best chance shortly after the hour mark when Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina saves a low effort from Tabitha Chawinga before the Malawi forward’s younger sister turns and fires the rebound wide.

Cameroon’s victory is particularly significant after the Indomitable Lionesses miss the 2024 Wafcon and initially fail to qualify for the 2026 tournament after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria.

The Central Africans eventually advance after Caf expands the finals from 12 to 16 teams, with Cameroon qualifying on the strength of their world ranking.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino presents the trophy alongside Caf president Patrice Motsepe, while Cameroon also receive $2m (£1.48m) in prize money.

The victory makes Cameroon only the fourth nation to win the Wafcon after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

“We are very happy,” Ngah Manga said on E4.

“We have been working so hard over all these years to get here. To finally be champions we are very proud.”

Cameroon, who have previously lost Wafcon finals in 2004, 2014 and 2016, now end years of disappointment by securing their first continental title.

The team, coached by Valentine Nguele since June, also overcome Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals before beating hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals.

Goalkeeper Bihina plays a key role in that run, making nine saves against Nigeria and keeping out an extra-time penalty and three more spot-kicks during the shootout against Morocco.

The 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper has a quieter final as Malawi struggles to create clear chances.

Cameroon nearly add a fourth late in the match, but Eto’s effort from a narrow angle is saved by Sikelo, while Grace Mendoua heads a corner across goal and wide.

Substitute Gabrielle Onguene also finds the net in injury time, but her goal is ruled out for offside.

The result ends Malawi’s impressive run at their first Wafcon tournament, but both finalists qualify for the 2027 Women’s Fifa World Cup in Brazil alongside semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.

The expanded Wafcon tournament also gives teams outside Africa’s traditional elite an opportunity to compete at the highest level, with Malawi’s run to the final highlighting the impact of the change.

Cameroon now celebrate their first Wafcon crown after three previous final defeats, all against Nigeria.