A new Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champion will be crowned in Morocco after the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon beat defending champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria 1-0 in a fiercely contested quarter-final to secure their place in the semi final and qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Sunday night in Casablanca.
Nigeria started the game better and could have had a couple of goals in the opening minutes but found Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina in inspired form as she saved shots from captain Rasheedat Ajibade and others.
Although Nigeria dominated possession, it was Cameroon who struck the decisive blow in the 19th minute through 20-year-old Myriam Maéva Nyadjou.
The youngstar unleashed a thunderous shot from a free kick about 30 yards which flew into the top corner despite Nigerians goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie getting a hand on it.
Nigeria tried to get an immediate response just a minute later as Ajibade delivered a dangerous cross into the Cameroonian area but Gift Monday was unable to make a clean connection and Bihina was able to save it.
The Cameroonian shot-stopper who emerged woman of the match then produced one of the saves of the tournament in the 70th minute, stretching out a strong hand to deny a powerful header from Uchenna Kanu to preserve her side’s lead.
Nigeria threw everything forward in the closing stages and almost forced extra time through substitute Esther Okoronkwo.
After using her pace to beat her marker, the forward sent a left-footed effort that drifted agonisingly wide of the post with another substitute, Asisat Oshoala who was completely unmarked, screaming for the ball.
Cameroon held firm through the final minutes to seal a memorable victory and in the process eliminate the most dominant champions in Africa while ensuring that a new champion will be crowned at the 2026 WAFCON.
The Super Falcons will have another chance to qualify for the 2027 World Cup as they will play South Africa in the repechage on Thursday with the winners advancing to the intercontinental playoffs.
In the other quarter final encounter on Sunday, debutants, the Scorchers of Malawi completed one of the greatest stories in the history of the WAFCON by defeating the Black Queens of Ghana 2-1 to secure a historic place in the semi-finals and qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 for the first time.
The Black Queens took the lead just seven minutes into the game through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.
But Malawi who had shocked many by beating Nigeria and Egypt in their first two matches and topped Group C, responded swiftly through star forward Temwa Chawinga who equalised in the 12th minute.
Rose Kadzere then capped another unforgettable night for the tournament debutants when she scored a dramatic winner in the 79th minute to continue Malawi’s remarkable run in the tournament.
For Ghana, the defeat was a bitter blow to their hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2007.
However, the Black Queens remain in contention for a World Cup place as they will face Côte d’Ivoire in the African play-off on Thursday with the winner advancing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs