WAFCON 2026 will produce a new African champion when Cameroon take on debutants Malawi in the final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, 16 August.
The final will be the first WAFCON meeting between Cameroon and Malawi, with Cameroon returning for their fourth final. Neither side has previously lifted the WAFCON trophy, making this only the third final to feature two teams yet to win the title, after the 1998 and 2022 finals. The winner will become the fourth different champion, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
The Finalists
Cameroon’s previous three final appearances all ended in defeat to Nigeria, with the Indomitable Lionesses yet to score in a WAFCON final. Under Valentine Nguele, they remain unbeaten at the tournament and have conceded just two goals, eliminating defending champions Nigeria and hosts Morocco in the knockout rounds. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina made nine saves against Nigeria before stopping four penalties against Morocco, while Marie Ngah Manga has scored three goals.
A win would give Cameroon their first WAFCON title and make them the third nation after Nigeria and South Africa to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Malawi have been the tournament’s most prolific side, with Lovemore Fazili’s team scoring 12 goals and finding the net in every match. The Chawinga sisters have contributed to 11 of those goals, with Temwa Chawinga scoring five goals, level with Zambia’s Barbra Banda at the top of the scoring chart, and providing two assists. Tabitha Chawinga has added four goals, while goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo made eight saves against Algeria. They have won four matches in open play, one short of Nigeria’s record of five in their 1998 debut, which included the final.
Final Facts
Nine of the previous 13 finals have been won with a clean sheet,…
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Read Full Article by Amara Obah at www.aclsports.com
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