Ngah Manga Double Fires Cameroon to Historic WAFCON Triumph as Malawi’s Fairytale Ends in Rabat

Marie Ngah Manga scored twice as Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final to secure their maiden continental title and bring an emphatic end to the Scorchers’ historic debut campaign.

Cameroon settled the final in the opening half at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with Ngah Manga and Naomi Ndjoah Eto putting the Indomitable Lionesses firmly in control before the interval. Ngah Manga subsequently completed her brace to seal a landmark victory for Cameroon.

The result delivered Cameroon’s first WAFCON crown after previous final defeats had left the country without the women’s continental title despite its long-standing status as one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations. The triumph came in Cameroon’s fourth appearance in a WAFCON final.

Ngah Manga’s decisive contribution earned her the Player of the Final honour, while Monique Ngock was recognised as the tournament’s Woman of the Competition following Cameroon’s successful campaign.

Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was also rewarded for her performances throughout the tournament with the Best Goalkeeper award. Her recognition capped a strong tournament for a Cameroon side that combined defensive resilience with attacking efficiency.

For Malawi, the final represented the culmination of one of the most remarkable stories of the tournament. The Scorchers were making their first-ever WAFCON appearance, yet advanced all the way to the final before ultimately falling to the more experienced Cameroonians.

Temwa Chawinga nevertheless finished the competition as Malawi’s standout individual performer, taking the Golden Boot with five goals. Her tournament followed an impressive club career with Kansas City Current, where she had already won successive NWSL Golden Boot and MVP honours.

The final also capped a tournament that produced several historic developments in African women’s football. Malawi reached the championship match on debut, while Cameroon finally broke through after years of near misses.

Algeria were recognised with the Fair Play Award, completing the tournament’s principal individual and team honours.

Cameroon’s triumph means the WAFCON trophy now belongs to a fourth nation in the competition’s history, following Nigeria’s dominance, Equatorial Guinea’s two championships and South Africa’s breakthrough title in 2022.