WAFCON 2026 FINAL: History Beckons as Malawi’s Dream meets Cameroon’s Resolute Defense

This is indeed the season of the underdogs in Africa as we had seen at the male FIFA world cup the rise of the country Cape Verde this isn’t any different with the WAFCON as tomorrow the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat will host a final that very few predicted when the tournament began.

Cameroon and Malawi face each other with neither ever having won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with dreams to one day raise the cup and now the opportunity is right there in front of them. With the stake being raised as a 2million dollar price has been announced for the winner a 750,000 dollar for the runner up and an automatic World Cup qualification already secured in Brazil coming 2027.

Two Teams, Two Extraordinary Journeys

Malawi’s Fairytale Debut

The Scorchers arrived as the ultimate underdogs, ranked as 153rd in the world 82 places below Cameroon they were expected to make up the numbers instead they announced themselves game after game throughout the tournament giving Africa the biggest shock.

They faced the WAFCON winners, the Nigeria Super Falcon who have held the title 10 times, a big shock when the game ended with 3-2, they came back with bigger shocks announcing that their win wasn’t a fluke when they topped the group C with wins against Egypt before failing to against Zambia and then they knocked out Ghana with a 2-1win and Algeria to a 3-1 win.  A team that never even qualified for this tournament is now 90 minutes away from continental glory.

Cameroon’s Second Chance

The indomitable lionesses weren’t even supposed to be here, they failed to qualify for the original 12-team tournament but earned a reprieve when CAF expanded to 16 teams.

They seized that opportunity ruthlessly with their win at the quarterfinal victory over the defending champions Nigeria a 1-0 win, followed by a penalty shootout win against hosts Morocco after 120 goalless minutes.

The 2026 WAFCON Tournament has been defined not by flair but by defensive steel.

The Key Battle: Attack Vs Defence

This final presents a fascinating tactical clash

 MALAWI’S ATTACK

Malawi has had 12 goals scored, the most of any team in the tournament. With the Chawinga sisters Temwa with 5 goals, 2 assists who leads the golden boots race  and Tabitha with 4 goals accounting for nine out of the 12 goals, their pace, movement and finishing have dismantled every defence they’ve faced and the two have become a force to reckon with.

The sisters in their interviews Temwa was asked about their teamwork and she replied 

           “many of the headlines reflect the goals Tabitha and i have scored but we are just part of a very talented group of footballers.

Which Tabitha echoed:

      ”Temwa and I will never succeed without our teammates. When everyone performs to the best of their ability we can succeed.

The absence of their star Midfielder Rose Kadzere who was suspended at the semi-final against Algeria who scored twice en route to the decider has raised eyebrows for the fans. She was issued very late into the first half stoppage time. She was sent off with the second and subsequent red over the “STUDS-UP-LUNGE” on Marine Dafeur an Algerian Player 45+8 minutes into the game after a lengthy VAR check.

The challenge was deemed dangerous enough to warrant a second yellow resulting in her suspension from the finals, This poses a fear for the Malawi midfield control which the Cameroon’s veterans Estelle Johnson, Ajara Nchout Njoya, Moniqur Ngock could exploit.

The Coach for Malawi Lovemore Fazili says that in all they remain confident despite losing kadzere for the finals.

CAMEROON’S DEFENCE

Cameroon on the other hand has only conceded 2 goals in the five matches they have played, with the sensational saves from the 22-year-old goalkeeper Michaely Bihina who had 9 saves against Nigeria in the quarter finals, then saved four penalties against Morocco in the semifinals, (one in extra time, three in the shootout) and hasn’t conceded in over 360 minutes of a game. The Benfica shot stopper is the tournament’s defining individual performer. With confidence when she was interviewed about the finals she said;

 “ I've watched some of their games but I've never seen the two sisters live and I will study them to see how they play and I will try to do my best against Malawi. The chainga sisters are special”

The Verdict

This is the classic irresistible force meeting immovable objects. Malawi’s Momentum is extraordinary; they have proven they can beat anyone. But Cameroon's defensive resilience throughout the tournament experience and Bihina’s inspired form give them the edge in tight knockout football.

Third Place Playoff context

Before the final, Morocco Vs Algeria happens, today Saturday 15th to determine the bronze position. Algeria are having their best ever WAFCON finish regardless of results, Morocco finished runners up in 2022 and 2024 so they’ll want to leave with a medal.

And to place your predictions on today’s match by trading on who you think will win with  OpinionMarket.ng you can.

Predictions

Cameroon to edge 1-0, with the chawinga sisters eventually nullified by a disciplined defensive setup

Platforms like OpinionMarket.ng allow fans back their predictions with real stakes and this final is a perfect case study. Whether you are predicting on emotions or analysis, OpinionMarket lets you put your football knowledge to the test. And with a final this open the right prediction could be both smart and profitable.

Goal markets like “Will the chawing sisters score?

                               “will Bihina’s penalty -saving record suggest value on “No Chawinga

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Golden Boot Sweetstakes: Temiwa Chawinga leads the race with five goals but with Ines Konan and Barbara Banda also on 5 and not playing speaks volume on the golden boot for Chawinga.

 

What’s at Stake?

This isn’t just about glory for both sides they both look to walking away with $2 million dollars and Runner up walks away with $750,000

For Malawi, a debutant nation that prize money would transform women’s football investment back home, if they win it is Malawi’s chance to complete the most remarkable debut in WAFCON history,  For Cameroon, it’s about finally converting near misses’ silver in 2004, 2024,2016 into gold.

And for African women’s football announcing a new era where Nigeria’s dominance is no longer guaranteed.

Kick-off is 20:00 local time in Rabat. History awaits.

I’ll be back with the full post-mortem the second the whistle blows. Don’t blink.