Cameroon claim first Wafcon title with victory over Malawi

Marie Ngah Manga's double for Cameroon in the final moved her level with Temwa Chawinga and Barbra Banda in the golden boot standings [Backpage Pix] Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi to claim their first ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title. Marie Ngah Manga's close-range header put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half hour mark in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and put the ball on a plate for striker Ngah Manga. Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa. However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run at the tournament. Ngah Manga missed a glorious chance to complete her hat-trick three minutes into the second half when she went past Sikelo but fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping. The Scorchers had their best chance just after the hour mark as Cameroon keeper Michaely Bihina saved a low effort from Tabitha Chawinga before her younger sibling turned and fired the rebound wide. Who are Malawi's Chawinga sisters? Why Cameroon keeper Bihina made waves at Wafcon Cameroon's triumph is all the more remarkable given the Indomitable Lionesses missed the 2024 edition of Wafcon and failed to qualify for these finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second round tie. However, the Central Africans advanced to the tournament on the strength of their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams. Cameroon, who previously lost three Wafcon finals, pick up $2m (£1.48m) in prize money and become just the fourth side to win the title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. Both sides will feature at the 2027 Women's Fifa World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow Wafcon semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.