🏆 One Match. One Trophy. Two Nations Making History.
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 reaches its grand finale on Sunday, 16 August, as Malawi’s Scorchers face Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in a final that few could have predicted before the tournament began.
For Malawi, this is their first-ever WAFCON appearance — and they have gone all the way to the final.
For Cameroon, it is a return to the continental showpiece after a decade away, and another opportunity to finally lift a trophy they have chased for generations.
🇲🇼 MALAWI: FROM DEBUTANTS TO FINALISTS
Malawi arrived in Morocco as tournament debutants with modest expectations but a clear plan.
Their preparation under head coach Lovemore Fazili was built around competitive exposure, squad development and gradually increasing the level of opposition.
The Scorchers used the COSAFA Championship, FIFA Series matches and international friendlies against teams including Tanzania, Ghana and Morocco to prepare for their historic WAFCON debut. Fazili also used the period to blend experienced internationals with younger players.
Their WAFCON qualification itself had already been historic.
Malawi defeated Angola 2–0 in Lilongwe, following a 0–0 first leg, to qualify for the finals for the first time in their history. Faith Chinzimu scored both goals in the decisive second leg.
Then came Morocco 2026.
🚨 GROUP C: MALAWI ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES
Malawi were placed in a brutal Group C alongside:
🇳🇬 Nigeria — defending champions
🇿🇲 Zambia
🇪🇬 Egypt
Few expected the debutants to dominate the group.
But the Scorchers stunned Africa immediately.
Malawi 3–2 Nigeria 🇲🇼🔥🇳🇬
Temwa Chawinga scored twice and Tabitha Chawinga added another as Malawi shocked the record 10-time champions in their first-ever WAFCON match.
They then defeated Egypt 3–1, with Temwa again on the scoresheet.
Against Zambia, Malawi lost 2–1, but their earlier results were enough to see them finish top of Group C on six points, ahead of Nigeria and Zambia on the head-to-head criteria.
They scored seven goals in the group stage — a record for a WAFCON debutant since Côte d’Ivoire’s seven in 2012.
⚔️ THE KNOCKOUT RUN
Quarter-final:
🇲🇼 Malawi 2–1 Ghana 🇬🇭
Ghana struck first, but Malawi responded and Rose Kadzere delivered the dramatic second-half winner.
The victory sent Malawi into the semi-finals and, more importantly, secured their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil — another first in the country’s history.
Semi-final:
🇲🇼 Malawi 3–1 Algeria 🇩🇿
And once again, the Chawinga sisters were at the centre of the story.
Tabitha Chawinga scored twice, as Malawi swept aside Algeria to reach their first-ever WAFCON final.
Malawi have now scored 12 goals, the most by any team in the tournament, although they have also conceded seven and are still searching for their first clean sheet.
🇨🇲 CAMEROON: EXPERIENCE, DISCIPLINE & REVENGE
Cameroon followed a very different route.
The Indomitable Lionesses arrived with enormous tournament experience and a new coach.
Valentine Nguele was appointed head coach in June 2026 after building a strong reputation in Cameroon’s domestic women’s football with FC Ebolowa Girls.
Nguele’s Cameroon have developed into one of the most difficult teams to break down in this tournament.
They won Group D with seven points, scoring four goals and conceding only two.
GROUP D
Cameroon began with:
🇨🇲 2–1 Mali
Then:
🇨🇲 1–0 Ghana
And finished the group stage with another victory over debutants Cape Verde.
The Lionesses therefore entered the knockout phase unbeaten and with one of the tournament’s strongest defensive records.
🦁 QUARTER-FINAL: CAMEROON 1–0 NIGERIA
Then came one of the biggest matches of the tournament.
Cameroon eliminated defending champions Nigeria 1–0.
It was more than a victory — it was a statement.
The Lionesses had finally overcome Nigeria in a WAFCON knockout match after years of disappointment against the Super Falcons.
🇨🇲 SEMI-FINAL: CAMEROON vs MOROCCO
Against hosts Morocco, Cameroon showed another side of their game.
The match finished 0–0, forcing a penalty shootout.
And goalkeeper Michaela Bihina became the hero, helping Cameroon win the shootout 3–1 and book their place in the final.
Cameroon are now appearing in their fourth WAFCON final, having previously reached the finals in 2004, 2014 and 2016.
But they lost all three.
Their last final appearance was in 2016.
So this is a chance for a completely different ending.
⭐ KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
🇲🇼 TABITHA CHAWINGA
The Malawi captain has been one of the tournament’s defining players.
The Olympique Lyonnais forward combines pace, movement, experience and finishing ability.
She scored twice against Algeria in the semi-final and has repeatedly produced decisive moments when Malawi need them most.
If Cameroon give her space behind their defensive line, they could have a serious problem.
🇲🇼 TEMWA CHAWINGA
The Kansas City Current star is another major threat.
Temwa scored twice against Nigeria in Malawi’s opening match and has been central to the Scorchers’ explosive attacking transitions.
The Chawinga sisters’ understanding is one of Malawi’s biggest weapons.
🇲🇼 ROSE KADZERE
The Montpellier midfielder has emerged as another crucial figure.
Her goal against Ghana sent Malawi into the semi-finals, while her ability to help connect midfield and attack could be critical against Cameroon’s compact defensive structure.
🇲🇼 FAITH CHIMZIMU
At just 19, Chimzimu has already shown remarkable maturity in midfield.
She offers Malawi energy, ball progression and composure in the centre of the pitch.
🇨🇲 MARIE NGAH MANGA
Ngah Manga has been one of Cameroon’s most important attacking players.
She scored in both of Cameroon’s first two group matches, including the winner against Ghana, and has shown an ability to exploit limited opportunities.
🇨🇲 GABRIELLE ABOUDI ONGUENE
Experience.
Leadership.
History.
At 37, the legendary Onguene is appearing at her eighth WAFCON, an extraordinary achievement.
Her movement and experience could prove valuable if the final becomes a tactical battle.
🇨🇲 MICHAELA BIHINA
The goalkeeper has already demonstrated that she can handle pressure.
Her penalty-saving heroics against Morocco sent Cameroon into the final.
If the match goes to penalties, Bihina could once again become decisive.
🧠 THE TACTICAL BATTLE
🇲🇼 WHAT MALAWI WILL TRY TO DO
Expect Malawi to play with verticality and speed.
The Scorchers are most dangerous when they win the ball and immediately attack space.
The objective will likely be:
Win the ball → release the Chawingas quickly → attack the space behind Cameroon.
Malawi also need to avoid becoming too stretched.
Their attacking ambition has brought them 12 goals, but they have conceded seven and have not kept a clean sheet.
That could be the biggest tactical question of the final:
Can Malawi maintain their attacking freedom without giving Cameroon the spaces they need?
🇨🇲 WHAT CAMEROON WILL TRY TO DO
Cameroon have been much more controlled.
They have conceded only two goals in the tournament and kept three clean sheets.
Expect Nguele’s side to prioritise defensive organisation, limit the space available to the Chawinga sisters and force Malawi to break them down through sustained possession rather than counter-attacks.
Cameroon may also look to exploit set pieces, physical duels and moments of transition.
The longer the game remains level, the more pressure could shift onto Malawi.
🔥 THE BIG QUESTION
Can Malawi’s explosive attack break Cameroon’s defensive wall?
Or will Cameroon’s experience finally deliver the trophy that has escaped them three times?
This is also a fascinating contrast:
🇲🇼 Malawi: 12 goals scored, 7 conceded
🇨🇲 Cameroon: 5 goals scored, only 2 conceded
One team has been built around attacking momentum.
The other has built its campaign around defensive discipline.
Something has to give.
🏆 SMoR SPORTS PREDICTION
This is one of the hardest WAFCON finals to predict.
Cameroon have the experience.
Malawi have the momentum.
Cameroon have the stronger defensive record.
Malawi have the tournament’s most prolific attack.
And Malawi have already proved that reputation means very little against them.
Our prediction: 🇲🇼 MALAWI 2–1 CAMEROON 🇨🇲
Why Malawi?
The Chawinga sisters are capable of producing the one moment that changes a final, while Malawi’s confidence is at an extraordinary level after eliminating Ghana and Algeria.
But expect a very tight contest.
Alternative scenario: 1–1 after 90 minutes, with extra time or penalties deciding Africa’s new champion.
🌍 WHATEVER HAPPENS, HISTORY WILL BE MADE
If Malawi win, the Scorchers will become the first Southern African team since South Africa to win the WAFCON — and they would do it in their very first appearance.
If Cameroon win, the Indomitable Lionesses will finally capture the trophy after losing their previous three finals.
Either way, Africa will have a new WAFCON champion.
The stage is set.
The Scorchers have arrived.
The Lionesses are hungry.
One final. One trophy. One new champion. 🏆🌍
🇲🇼 MALAWI vs CAMEROON 🇨🇲
WAFCON 2026 FINAL
Who are you backing?
🇲🇼 SCORCHERS
or
🇨🇲 INDOMITABLE LIONESSES
👇 Tell us your prediction in the comments.
#WAFCON2026 #WAFCON #Malawi #Cameroon #MalawiScorchers #IndomitableLionesses #AfricanFootball #WomensFootball #CAF #FootballAfrica #SMoR #SMoRSports
