Cameroon have finally got their hands on the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy after a devastating first half display secured a 3-0 victory over Malawi and delivered the Indomitable Lionesses their first continental title.
After losing three previous finals in 2004, 2014 and 2016, Cameroon ended years of disappointment in emphatic fashion, scoring three times before half time to leave Malawi facing an almost impossible task in their first appearance in the tournament’s final.
Marie Ngah Manga was the star of the night, scoring twice, while Naomi Eto added another as Cameroon turned a closely contested opening into a one-sided final before the break.
The victory completed an extraordinary tournament for Cameroon, who had not originally qualified for the expanded competition and instead entered after receiving a place based on their FIFA ranking.
They went on to eliminate Nigeria and hosts Morocco on their way to the final before producing their most convincing performance of the tournament when it mattered most.
Malawi, meanwhile, were playing in their first WAFCON final and had already made history simply by reaching the showpiece. But their remarkable run ultimately ended against a Cameroon side that proved too strong when the decisive moments arrived.
Cameroon started brightly, with Achta Toko Njoya finding space inside the Malawi penalty area early on, although her effort lacked the power to seriously trouble goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo.
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Malawi responded through the Chawinga sisters, with Temwa Chawinga causing problems down the left and Tabitha creating an early opening for her sister. Temwa broke into the box but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina came off her line quickly to narrow the angle and make an important save.
The opening goal arrived when Naomi Eto’s cross found Grace Mendoua at the far post. Her header was pushed onto the crossbar by Sikelo, but the rebound fell kindly for Ngah Manga, who reacted quickest to fire Cameroon ahead from close range.
Malawi immediately tried to respond, but Cameroon were beginning to take control.
The second goal arrived from a corner when Malawi failed to clear their lines. Eto produced a superb piece of technique before firing an acrobatic effort beyond Sikelo to double Cameroon’s advantage.
Sikelo then produced another important intervention to prevent Cameroon from extending their lead further, but the Malawian defence continued to struggle with the movement and pace of the Indomitable Lionesses.
Cameroon eventually found a third just before half time when Sikelo rushed from her goal in an attempt to stop Eto, but the Cameroonian forward evaded the goalkeeper before delivering the ball across the area. Ngah Manga was perfectly positioned to meet it and head home her second goal of the final.
Three goals in 45 minutes had effectively settled the contest but Malawi refused to surrender after the restart and came close to reducing the deficit when Temwa Chawinga’s effort grazed the post.
Ngah Manga then missed an extraordinary opportunity to complete her hattrick after rounding the goalkeeper but sending her shot wide with the goal at her mercy.
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There were also several moments of VAR drama as both sides appealed for penalties, but neither intervention resulted in a spot kick.
Malawi continued to search for a route back into the match, with the Chawinga sisters remaining their biggest threat. Tabitha was denied by Bihina after breaking into the box, while Temwa later missed the target from a promising position.
But Cameroon remained dangerous and continued to create opportunities of their own.
Ngah Manga was denied by Sikelo as she chased a hat-trick, while Eto almost added another after a brilliant individual run took her through the Malawian defence before Sikelo came out to block her effort.
Malawi’s resistance prevented Cameroon from adding to their three-goal advantage, although Gabrielle Onguene appeared to have completed the rout in stoppage time.
The veteran forward found the net after Rose Bella’s cross, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. It mattered little as the final whistle brought the game to an end.
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Cameroon that had endured heartbreak in three previous WAFCON finals, the wait was finally over. the nation had gone from needing a FIFA ranking lifeline just to enter the tournament to defeating two of Africa’s leading contenders, Nigeria and Morocco, before overpowering Malawi in the final.
Meanwhile there was disappointment for Malawi but their run will remain one of the defining stories of the tournament. Their first appearance ended with a place in the final and a silver medal.
