Cameroon have been crowned champions of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in the country's history, capping off a tournament defined by upsets, late organisational changes and the emergence of several breakout stars.
The build-up to this year's competition was far from smooth. Organisers made late alterations to the qualification process, and even the tournament's dates were shifted at short notice, creating uncertainty for teams and fans alike in the months leading up to kick-off. Despite the disruption, the competition itself delivered a string of surprising results once matches got under way.
Cameroon's run to the title was built on notable victories over two of the continent's traditional powerhouses, Nigeria and Morocco, teams that have historically dominated the women's game in Africa. Those wins signalled a shift in the competitive landscape and helped fuel Cameroon's march to their maiden continental crown.
Central to that success were standout individual performances that captured attention throughout the tournament. Forward Michaely Bihina and midfielder Monique Ngock both delivered displays that elevated their profiles, with their contributions repeatedly cited as pivotal to Cameroon's progress through the knockout stages and ultimately to the final.
Cameroon were not the only team to enjoy an unexpected run deep into the competition. Malawi also produced a fairytale campaign, advancing all the way to the final on the back of goals scored by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. Their partnership up front proved a driving force behind Malawi's surprise progress, as the side defied expectations to reach the biggest match of the tournament before ultimately falling short against Cameroon.
The broader implications of this year's WAFCON have become a talking point among football observers, with questions being raised about whether the tournament represents a genuine changing of the guard in African women's football or a one-off disruption to the established order. Journalists Busisiwe Mokwena and Biola Solace-Chukwu discussed these themes on the BBC World Service podcast "More than the Score," hosted by Sophia Hartley, examining the key storylines from the competition and what could lie ahead for the players and nations who made their mark.
The conversation centred on whether the success of Cameroon and Malawi could translate into sustained investment and development for women's football across the continent, or whether it will remain an isolated moment of triumph amid the sport's ongoing structural challenges in Africa. Both journalists weighed in on the future prospects of the standout performers from the tournament, including Bihina, Ngock and the Chawinga sisters, and what routes might open up for them at club level following their exploits on the continental stage.
With the trophy now in Cameroonian hands for the first time, attention turns to how the federation and the wider footballing infrastructure in the country will build on this success. Similarly, Malawi's run to the final has raised expectations for a program that had not previously reached such heights, adding another layer of intrigue to the future development of the women's game across Africa.
As the dust settles on a tournament shaped as much by off-field turbulence as by on-field drama, the achievements of Cameroon and Malawi stand out as significant milestones, potentially reshaping perceptions of competitive balance in African women's football moving forward.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport (BBC World Service podcast, "More than the Score").