Cameroon will face debutants Malawi in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after both nations secured impressive semifinal victories over Morocco and Algeria respectively on Wednesday.
The Scorchers of Malawi made history by reaching their first-ever WAFCON final with a 3-1 victory over Algeria, inspired by the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.
Tabitha scored twice while Temwa also found the net as Malawi continued their remarkable run at the tournament. The sisters have been central to the Scorchers’ success and once again proved decisive when it mattered most.
The semifinal was filled with drama from the early stages. Algeria’s Morgane Belkhiter was shown a straight red card in the 23rd minute, while Malawi were also reduced to 10 players in first-half stoppage time after Rose Kadzere was sent off.
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Amidst the controversy, Malawi established a two-goal advantage before Algeria pulled one back in the 60th minute through Ikram Adjabi.
With the Fennecs threatening to complete a comeback, Tabitha Chawinga restored Malawi’s two-goal cushion in the 76th minute, sealing a historic victory and sending the debutants into the final.
Cameroon, meanwhile, secured their place in the showpiece after edging hosts Morocco in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in normal time, forcing the semifinal into extra time. The biggest moment came in the 118th minute when Morocco were awarded a penalty, a decision that sparked strong protests from the Cameroonian players and supporters.
Fatima Tagnaout stepped up for the Atlas Lionesses, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina produced a crucial save to keep the game level.
With neither team able to find a winner before the final whistle, the semifinal was decided from the spot.
Bihina once again emerged as Cameroon’s hero, saving three consecutive penalties as the Indomitable Lionesses converted three of their own to secure a 3-1 victory in the shootout.
The goalkeeper, who was also named Woman of the Match after Cameroon’s quarterfinal victory over Nigeria, continued her outstanding tournament and has conceded just once so far.
The result sets up a fascinating final between two sides chasing history. Cameroon and Malawi will meet in Rabat on Sunday, with both nations seeking to win the WAFCON title for the first time.
The final will also pit Malawi’s in-form Chawinga sisters against a resilient Cameroon defense led by the outstanding Bihina, setting the stage for one of the most intriguing matchups of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Algeria and hosts Morocco will meet in the third-place playoff. The two sides already faced each other in the group stage, with Morocco claiming a 1-0 victory on that occasion.
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