The Indomitable Lionesses dispatched Malawi 3-0 in the final at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, to win their first-ever continental title.
Two first-half goals from Marie Ngah Manga and a brilliant swivel-and-strike from Naomi Eto saw Cameroon, who failed to qualify for the WAFCON and only got a second chance, complete one of the most incredible football stories.
Cameroon lost at home and away to Algeria in the final qualification round for WAFCON, but were only drafted in after the CAF later expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.
In the final, the Lionesses faced off against Malawi, the fairytale debutants, and swept them aside despite the presence of the Chawinga sisters—Tabitha and Temwa.
The opening breakthrough arrived when a cross hit off Malawian goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo onto the crossbar, leaving Marie Ngah to react fastest and nod home the rebound in the 20th minute of play.
Naomi Eto doubled the advantage in stylish fashion, receiving the ball with her back to goal inside the box before swivelling smoothly to bury a low effort into the far corner.
On the stroke of half-time, Eto turned provider, whipping in a curling delivery that Ngah headed home for her second of the night and fourth of the tournament.
Malawi attempted to spark a comeback in the second half, with Temwa Chawinga firing just wide after a goalmouth scramble. Yet, Cameroon’s robust defensive shape ensured the Scorchers rarely found clean looks on goal, expertly muffling Malawi’s high-powered attack to keep a clean sheet until the final whistle.
Cameroon became the fourth nation to win the WAFCON trophy alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
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