WAFCON 2026 Final Recap: Cameroon Crowned Champions of Africa in Morocco
The WAFCON 2026 final delivered exactly the kind of story African women's football had been building towards, only it wasn't the team most people expected.
Cameroon won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history, dismantling debutants Malawi 3-0 in Sunday's final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. A one-sided first half, built on a Marie Ngah double and a Naomi Ndjoah Eto strike, was enough to end Malawi's fairytale run and hand Cameroon their maiden continental crown at the fourth attempt.
Below, you'll find a full recap of how the final unfolded, the storylines that decided it, what it means for women's football betting markets, and where to follow live coverage of the next fixture.
The Result: Cameroon 3-0 Malawi
Cameroon 3-0 Malawi (Ngah 20', Eto 29', Ngah 45+2') — Rabat, 16 August 2026. It was Cameroon's fourth WAFCON final appearance after losing in 2004, 2014 and 2016, and their win made them only the fourth nation ever to lift the trophy, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in that exclusive group.
The victory was made all the more remarkable by how Cameroon reached the tournament at all: they had initially failed to qualify for what was set to be a 12-team competition and were only reinstated once CAF expanded the finals to 16 teams.
How the Final Unfolded in Rabat
Malawi, appearing at a WAFCON finals for the first time and ranked 153rd in the world when the tournament began, had the more eye-catching route to the final, eliminating Nigeria in the group stage before knocking out Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds.
But the final belonged entirely to Cameroon. Marie Ngah opened the scoring in the 20th minute, Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead nine minutes later, and Ngah struck again in first-half stoppage time to put the game out of reach before the break.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, already Player of the Match in the wins over Nigeria and hosts Morocco, made an early save from tournament top scorer Temwa Chawinga to help settle her side, and a Cameroon defence that had not conceded in the knockout rounds held firm for the rest of the contest.
Malawi's run had already been secured as one of the stories of the tournament regardless of the final's outcome. Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga scored nine of the Scorchers' 12 goals across the competition, and their run to the final confirmed Malawi's first-ever qualification for the Women's World Cup. For Cameroon, the win closed out a campaign built on defensive resolve, having managed just four goals in their five games before the final.
Marie Ngah's Double Wrote Cameroon Into History
Ngah's brace either side of Eto's strike made her the individual story of the final, capping a tournament in which Cameroon's attacking output had otherwise been modest.
The result also settled an uncomfortable piece of history for Cameroon, who had previously lost all three of their WAFCON penalty shootouts, this time, there was no shootout required, with the game won and finished by half-time.
Malawi's Fairytale Run Ends at the Final Hurdle
There is no shame in Malawi's defeat. A team ranked outside the world's top 150 when the tournament kicked off reached a WAFCON final on debut, beat two of the continent's traditional heavyweights along the way, and secured a first Women's World Cup berth in the process.
The Chawinga sisters' form throughout the tournament ensures Malawi leaves Morocco as one of the standout stories of WAFCON 2026, even without the trophy.
What the Final Means for Women's Football Betting Markets
Cameroon were not the pre-tournament favourites, and Malawi's odds lengthened further once they were drawn into a group containing traditional powerhouse Nigeria.
That gap between pre-tournament pricing and the eventual result is a reminder of how quickly outright and match-winner markets can move once a knockout run builds momentum, particularly in an expanded, 16-team format where lower-ranked sides face fewer high-seeded opponents early on.
It also underlines why in-play markets are worth following for tournaments like this: Cameroon's win was effectively settled inside the first 45 minutes, and prices moved accordingly well before full time.
Backing Women's Football on Sportsbet.io
If you want to follow African international football, or start building positions ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers, Sportsbet.io covers the Africa Cup of Nations betting markets directly, alongside live in-play soccer betting with odds that update in real time as a match unfolds.
Soccer sits alongside dozens of other sports on the full Sportsbet.io sports menu. The Sportsbet.io help centre walks you through account setup, funding, and placing your first bet, and the Sportsbet.io blog keeps running form guides and market analysis across women's football and beyond, not just marquee finals.
Responsible Gambling
Finals like this one are exciting to bet on, but it's worth keeping perspective: Cameroon were not the form pick, and no outright or in-play bet is ever guaranteed. Only ever stake what you can afford to lose, avoid chasing losses after a market moves against you, and take regular breaks, especially during high-profile tournaments with matches on consecutive days.
You must be 18 or the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher, to bet. Sportsbet.io's responsible gambling tools let you set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits, take a time-out from your account for one to six weeks, or self-exclude for longer periods, all from your account settings.
If gambling stops feeling fun or starts to feel out of your control, free and confidential support is available in most countries through organisations such as GamCare, Gambling Therapy or Gamblers Anonymous.
FAQs: The WAFCON 2026 Final in Morocco
Who won the WAFCON 2026 final?
Cameroon won the WAFCON 2026 final, beating debutants Malawi 3-0 in Rabat on 16 August 2026 to claim their first-ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations title.
Who scored in the WAFCON 2026 final?
Marie Ngah scored twice for Cameroon (20th minute and first-half stoppage time), either side of a Naomi Ndjoah Eto strike in the 29th minute. All three goals came before half-time.
Is this Cameroon's first WAFCON title?
Yes. It's Cameroon's first Women's Africa Cup of Nations title after three previous runner-up finishes (2004, 2014 and 2016), making them only the fourth nation to win the tournament.
Did Malawi qualify for the Women's World Cup?
Yes. Malawi's run to the WAFCON 2026 final secured their first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup, regardless of the final's result.
Where can I bet on African international football?
Sportsbet.io covers the Africa Cup of Nations and a wide range of international and domestic women's and men's football, including live in-play markets and outright tournament betting, with crypto deposits and withdrawals.
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