08/16/26 04:21:00
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08/16 16:19 CDT Cameroon beats Malawi 3-0 to win Women's Africa Cup of Nations
for the first time
Cameroon beats Malawi 3-0 to win Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first
time
RABAT, Morocco (AP) --- Cameroon finally won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations
on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over tournament debutant Malawi.
Marie Ngah Manga headed two goals and Naomi Eto scored the other while Cameroon
kept Malawi's Chawinga sisters in check to claim its first win in the final at
the fourth attempt.
The Indomitable Lionesses, who failed to qualify for the previous edition of
the tournament, had lost on their last three appearances in the final -- all to
10-time winner Nigeria.
FIFA's under-fire president, Gianni Infantino, attended the game along with CAF
President Patrice Motsepe.
Cameroon too strong
Malawi made the better start but suffered a double blow when Ngah Manga headed
the opener from close range in the 21st minute, eight minutes before Eto -- who
had her back to goal -- turned brilliantly to send the ball inside the right
post.
Samuel Eto'o, now the president of the Cameroon Football Federation, celebrated
enthusiastically in the stands.
Eto was also involved in the first goal, forcing a save from Malawi goalkeeper
Mercy Sikelo before Ngah Manga scored.
Malawi failed to muster a response and Ngah Manga effectively sealed the result
on a break when Eto got to the ball before Sikelo and produced a perfect cross
for her teammate to head her second goal of the game and fifth overall in the
tournament.
Cameroon substitutes ran onto the field to celebrate with their teammates.
The Chawinga sisters had pushed Malawi after the break. Tabitha Chawinga felt
she should have had a penalty, but a VAR check deemed otherwise. Then she drew
a good save from Michaely Bihina, and her sister Temwa went close from the
rebound.
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