Marie Ngah Manga’s double inspires the Indomitable Lionesses to a first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in Rabat

Cameroon claimed their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, August 16, 2026, defeating tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, as Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto added another to deliver a landmark triumph for the Indomitable Lionesses.

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The victory ended Cameroon’s long wait for the continental crown after three previous final defeats and completed a remarkable recovery for a side that had initially missed out on qualification for the expanded 2026 tournament.

Cameroon took control of the final before Malawi could settle, with Ngah Manga opening the scoring in the 20th minute. The forward reacted sharply inside the area to head the ball home and give Cameroon an early advantage.

Eto then doubled the lead nine minutes later with a superb volley, leaving Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo with little opportunity to prevent the second goal.

The pressure continued into first-half stoppage time. Eto turned provider for Ngah Manga, who found the net again to give Cameroon a commanding 3-0 lead at the interval.

The second half offered Malawi a chance to change the rhythm of the contest, but Cameroon remained disciplined at the back.

Ngah Manga came close to completing a hat-trick after rounding Sikelo early in the second half, but her effort went wide.

Malawi’s most dangerous response came through Tabitha Chawinga, one of the tournament’s standout players. Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina denied Chawinga before the Malawian forward sent the rebound wide.

The result was particularly significant for Malawi, who were appearing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

The Scorchers had produced one of the tournament’s most compelling stories, including a historic group-stage victory over defending champions Nigeria.

The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, had been central to Malawi’s remarkable run, but Cameroon’s defensive organisation restricted their influence when it mattered most.

For Ngah Manga, the final provided another decisive contribution after she had already scored twice in Cameroon’s opening 2-1 victory over Mali.

Her two goals in the final took her tournament tally to five, level with Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga and Zambia’s Barbra Banda according to tournament reporting.

Cameroon’s route to the final was all the more striking because the team had initially failed to qualify through the conventional route. Algeria eliminated Cameroon 3-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying round.

CAF subsequently expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams and selected the four highest-ranked teams eliminated in the final qualifying round to complete the field. Cameroon was among those reinstated alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt.

That second chance ultimately became the foundation for Cameroon’s greatest achievement in the competition.

Before Sunday’s final, Cameroon had reached the WAFCON final three times without winning the trophy.

The victory in Rabat finally removed that painful distinction and placed Cameroon alongside the previous champions, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

The triumph also carries significance beyond the continental trophy. The 2026 WAFCON served as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the semi-finalists securing direct qualification.

Cameroon therefore leave Morocco as African champions and World Cup qualifiers, completing a powerful turnaround from the disappointment of their original qualifying campaign.

The tournament itself represented another milestone for women’s football in Africa. Morocco 2026 was the first WAFCON to feature 16 teams, with CAF describing the expansion as part of its broader effort to increase participation and strengthen the women’s game across the continent.

For Malawi, defeat brought an end to an extraordinary debut campaign.

The Scorchers may not have lifted the trophy, but their run to the final established them as a significant force in African women’s football and secured their place among the nations heading towards Brazil 2027.

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For Cameroon, however, the night belonged to a historic generation. After years of near misses and a dramatic route back into the tournament, the Indomitable Lionesses finally turned opportunity into silverware.