Cameroon capture maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations title with 3-0 win over Malawi
Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final, with Marie Ngah Manga scoring twice and Naomi Eto adding a third. The victory gave Cameroon their first Wafcon title after three previous final defeats. Malawi, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, were unable to contain Cameroon's attack.
Cameroon's path to the title was unconventional, as they missed the 2024 edition and initially failed to qualify for these finals after a 3-1 aggregate loss to Algeria. They only entered the expanded 16-team tournament due to their world ranking, making their eventual triumph a remarkable turnaround.
The victory earned a $2 million prize and established them as the fourth nation to win the title. Both finalists, along with Algeria and Morocco, have already secured spots at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Coach Valentine Nguele oversaw the win, with Fifa and Caf presidents presenting the trophy.
Cameroon's first title could significantly boost the profile and investment in women's football across Central Africa, potentially inspiring young girls to take up the sport. For Malawi, reaching the final despite being the lowest-ranked team may galvanize grassroots support and funding for the Scorchers. The expanded tournament format might also encourage other lower-ranked nations to invest, possibly narrowing the competitive gap in African women's soccer.