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Cameroon Defeat Morocco on Penalties to Reach the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Final
The Indomitable Lionesses, after eliminating defending champions Nigeria, ended the hosts’ dominance in the continental tournament.
Cameroon defeated hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties on Wednesday in the semifinal of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was the star of the shootout as the Indomitable Lionesses booked their place in the final, where they will face surprise package Malawi. It will be the fifth time Cameroon have reached the continental final, having fallen short in each of their previous four appearances. The Indomitable Lionesses will be chasing their first-ever WAFCON title in their first final since 2016.
Cameroon once again made a statement at the 2026 WAFCON. The semifinal was defined by tension and a lack of space on the field. The host nation had the backing of its home crowd and looked to take control of the match, but it ran into a well-organized Cameroonian defense that stood firm against every Moroccan attack.
Cameroon Hold Firm as Morocco Miss Their Big Chance
The match produced few clear-cut opportunities, and the score remained 0-0 throughout the 90 minutes. Morocco increased the intensity after halftime, while Jorge Vilda made attacking substitutions in search of a breakthrough. However, Cameroon maintained its defensive structure and forced the game into extra time.
Just when it appeared the semifinal was destined to be decided from the penalty spot, the hosts were handed a golden opportunity. In the 118th minute, Morocco were awarded a penalty, with Fatima Tagnaout stepping up to take it. However, the forward failed to convert, wasting a chance that could have sent Morocco directly into the final.
The miss proved decisive. After the score remained 0-0 through 120 minutes, everything came down to the penalty shootout.
Cameroon Breaks the Curse and Reaches the Final
The shootout initially went Morocco’s way when Hanane Aït El Haj converted, but mistakes from Kenza Chapelle, Meryem Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui opened the door for Cameroon. Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou all scored for the Indomitable Lionesses, enough to secure a 3-1 victory on penalties.
The result carries special significance for Cameroon. The Indomitable Lionesses had lost their previous three WAFCON penalty shootouts, including their 2018 semifinal against Nigeria. This time, they finally broke that painful streak on one of the biggest stages.
Cameroon also reach their fourth WAFCON final, after eliminating defending champions Nigeria in the quarterfinals and now knocking out hosts Morocco.
For Morocco, the defeat ends their hopes of reaching a third consecutive final and winning their first-ever African title on home soil. For Cameroon, however, this tournament is already taking on historic proportions. After overcoming two major obstacles in the knockout stage, the Indomitable Lionesses are now one win away from being crowned African champions.
