By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
A historic chapter in African women’s football will be written Sunday when Cameroon and Malawi collide in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON at Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
With neither nation having ever lifted the trophy, the tournament conclusion promises a coronation for a first-time champion following a dramatically expanded 16-team competition.
For Malawi, the journey to Rabat has been nothing short of a fairy tale. Entering their maiden WAFCON appearance as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament at 153rd in the world, the Scorchers emerged as the surprise narrative of the competition.
They opened Group C with a staggering 3-2 upset of traditional powerhouse Nigeria before securing victories against Egypt and Zambia to sweep the group. Malawi then eliminated Ghana 2-1 in the quarterfinals and dismantled Algeria 3-1 in the semifinals. Driven by an explosive attack, the debutants have scored 13 goals while allowing six across their five matches.
Cameroon, meanwhile, took a far more grind-it-out path to the final. After gaining entry into the tournament through its expansion from 12 teams, the Indomitable Lionesses topped Group D with wins over Mali and Ghana alongside a draw against Cabo Verde.
In the knockout stages, Cameroon ground out a 1-0 victory over defending champions Nigeria before defeating host nation Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a scoreless draw through 120 minutes. Cameroon has relied heavily on defensive solidity, allowing just two goals during regulation play in the entire tournament while scoring five.
This marks Cameroon’s fourth WAFCON final appearance. The Lionesses are seeking to erase decades of heartbreak, most notably a agonizing loss on home soil to Nigeria in the 2016 final.
Sunday’s final presents a classic dynamic between Malawi’s high-octane offense and Cameroon’s ironclad defense.
Malawi’s attack flows through the prolific Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, who both found the back of the net in the semifinal win over Algeria. Temwa Chawinga currently leads the tournament’s Golden Boot race with five goals and two assists.
To claim the title, however, the Chawinga sisters must break down Cameroon’s standout goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina. The 22-year-old shot-stopper, who recently joined Portuguese club Benfica, produced a nine-save performance against Nigeria before delivering a masterclass against Morocco, saving a penalty in extra time and stopping three more attempts in the decisive shootout.
When the whistle blows on Sunday, the final will ultimately answer whether Malawi’s relentless attack or Cameroon’s resolute defense holds the key to continental glory.
