Cameroon have made history by winning the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time after defeating Malawi 3-0 in a dominant final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The Indomitable Lionesses produced a powerful first-half performance, with Marie Ngah scoring twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto adding another goal to secure Cameroon’s long-awaited continental triumph.
Ngah Leads Cameroon to WAFCON Glory
Marie Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute, giving Cameroon an early advantage in the highly anticipated WAFCON final.
Ten minutes later, Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead after receiving a well-timed assist from Myriam Nyadjou.
Cameroon continued to control proceedings and extended their advantage deep into first-half stoppage time. Ndjoah Eto turned provider for Ngah, who scored again in the 45+3rd minute to complete her brace and give the Indomitable Lionesses a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time.
The result effectively settled the contest before the second half began.
Cameroon End Long Wait for African Women’s Football Title
The historic victory makes Cameroon only the fourth country to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The triumph also ended Cameroon’s painful history of losing WAFCON finals. The Indomitable Lionesses had previously suffered defeats against Nigeria in the 2004, 2014 and 2016 finals.
After three unsuccessful attempts, Cameroon finally secured their first African women’s football championship.
Malawi’s Historic WAFCON Campaign Ends in Defeat
The final was also a landmark occasion for Malawi, who were appearing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
The Scorchers had enjoyed an impressive tournament and entered the final as the competition’s leading scorers, having netted 12 goals. Sisters Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga were among the key players behind Malawi’s remarkable run.
Malawi defeated Algeria 3-1 in the semi-final to book their place in the final, becoming the first Southern African debutants to reach the WAFCON title match.
However, Cameroon’s defensive organisation and clinical finishing proved decisive in Rabat.
Cameroon’s Remarkable Road to the WAFCON Trophy
Cameroon’s journey to the title was particularly impressive considering they were not originally qualified for the tournament and entered following the expansion of the competition to 16 teams.
The Indomitable Lionesses defeated Ghana in the group stage before eliminating 10-time champions Nigeria with a 1-0 quarter-final victory.
They then overcame hosts Morocco on penalties after a goalless semi-final, setting up the final showdown with Malawi.
Cameroon completed their knockout campaign without conceding a goal, underlining the strength of their defensive unit.
Ngah and Ndjoah Eto Shine in Final
Ngah emerged as one of the biggest stars of the WAFCON final with her two goals, while Ndjoah Eto delivered an outstanding performance with a goal and an assist.
For captain Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné and her teammates, the victory represents the culmination of years of disappointment on the continental stage.
Cameroon had reached three previous WAFCON finals without scoring in any of them. This time, they broke that unwanted record in emphatic fashion by scoring three goals before half-time.
The final victory marks a major milestone for Cameroon women’s football and confirms the Indomitable Lionesses as champions of Africa for the first time.
Source: newsthemegh.com