Goalkeeper Bihina produced another extraordinary display of shot-stopping to fire Cameroon past hosts Morocco and into the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, with the semi-final tie eventually settled by penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
Morocco dominated possession for long stretches in front of their home supporters but could not find a breakthrough against a well-drilled and resilient Cameroon defence. The Atlas Lionesses' best early opportunity arrived in the 14th minute when Sanaa Mssoudy got a touch on Hanane Ait El Haj's cross from the right, only to see the ball cannon off the post. Mssoudy was involved again on the hour mark, this time firing into the side-netting after another promising move.
As the match wore on, Cameroon began to grow into the contest, but it was Morocco who continued to threaten more clear-cut chances. In the closing stages of normal time, Imane Saoud struck straight at Bihina, Mssoudy headed wide, and Michaela Abam sent an effort over the bar at the other end.
Extra time offered few clear openings, though Abam had a shot blocked in the first period and Morocco's Atiq headed over in the second. The tie appeared destined to swing decisively in Morocco's favour deep into extra time when a VAR review, conducted by Togolese official Vincentia Amedome, awarded the hosts a penalty after Nyadjou was judged to have caught Ouzraoui in the face with her arm.
Substitute Tagnaout stepped up to take the spot-kick in place of Ait El Haj, who had scored from the spot in the quarter-final victory over South Africa. However, Tagnaout's tame effort was comfortably palmed away by Bihina, keeping the tie alive and setting the stage for a dramatic shootout.
Bihina, who plays her club football for Benfica in Cameroon, then delivered a performance to remember from the penalty spot. She denied four separate Morocco takers, adding to the remarkable nine saves she made in Cameroon's earlier quarter-final upset of 10-time champions Nigeria. Chapelle's effort was saved after being struck too close to the goalkeeper, before further spectacular stops from Bihina denied both Atiq and Ouzraoui.
At the other end, Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi kept her side's hopes alive by saving a penalty from Grace Mendoua, but it ultimately proved insufficient against Bihina's dominant display between the posts.
The result represents a significant setback for Morocco, who have made substantial investments in their women's football programme in recent years, including the appointment of Jorge Vilda, the manager who guided Spain to Women's World Cup glory, in pursuit of a first continental title. The Atlas Lionesses had finished as runners-up in 2022 and reached last year's delayed 2024 Wafcon final, only to squander a 2-0 half-time lead against Nigeria and finish second once again.
Cameroon, by contrast, will return to the Wafcon final for the first time since 2016, when they lost to Nigeria as tournament hosts. The Indomitable Lionesses have been beaten in three previous finals. Coach Valentine Nguele, who took charge only in June, will now turn her attention to Sunday's final against Malawi, where containing the threat of sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga will be a key priority.
Whatever the outcome in the final, a new name will be etched onto the Wafcon trophy. Elsewhere in African football, Thursday sees Ivory Coast face Ghana and Nigeria take on South Africa in play-off matches determining places in the intercontinental qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.