Morocco’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final ended on Wednesday night after Cameroon eliminated the hosts 3-1 on penalties following a goalless semi-final in Rabat, Morocco World News reports.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was the hero as she made four saves (three in the shootout and one in extra-time) to help her side reach a fourth WAFCON final.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock during 90 minutes, and another 30 minutes of extra time also failed to produce a goal, sending Morocco into a WAFCON semi-final shootout for the third consecutive tournament.
This time, however, the outcome went against the Atlas Lionesses.
Hanane Ait El Haj converted Morocco’s opening penalty, but the hosts then struggled from the spot. Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui Diki all failed to convert their attempts, allowing Cameroon to take control of the shootout.
Marie Ngah and Bella Rose were among Cameroon’s successful takers, while Grâce Davila Mendoua missed her attempt.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: Ordega Blames Inadequate Preparation For Super Falcons’ Exit
The defeat ended Morocco’s remarkable perfect record in WAFCON penalty shootouts. Before Wednesday’s match, the Atlas Lionesses had converted all nine penalties they had taken across shootout victories over Nigeria in the 2022 semi-final and Ghana at the same stage in 2024.
Those two victories had sent Morocco into back-to-back continental finals, but Cameroon prevented Jorge Vilda’s side from making it three in succession.
Morocco had entered the semi-final after defeating South Africa 2-1 in the quarter-finals, a victory that also secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon reached the last four after producing one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by eliminating defending champions Nigeria 1-0.
Cameroon will now meet Malawi in Sunday’s WAFCON final after the tournament debutants continued their extraordinary campaign with a 3-1 semi-final victory over Algeria earlier on Wednesday.
9 Comments
Morocco fall short, again…
Michaely Bihina in Cameroon Lionesses goal is simply unplayable, winning 2 “Player of the match” award in 2 consecutive Knockout stage football in wins against Nigeria in the Quarter Finals- where she incredibly did a one-woman show, in a barely average Cameroon ladies team, to thwart SF team that outplayed her team, and then last night when her saves of 4 penalties, including one in extra time that could have given Morocco victory, without recourse to penalties shoot out.
I still believe that Nigerian SF are still the best team in Africa, and had they navigated the Cameroonian Qtr-final match which they lost fortuitously by a lone goal, would have defended the title successfully in this 2026 Wafcon. Morocco never threatened Cameroonian keeper Bihina, throughout 120minutes of regulation and extra time, and when gifted a chance to win through a dubious penalty award in the 115minute of extra time, they were thwarted by same Bihina save for Cameroon.
Bihina is peaking at the right time, and in the form of her career right now and in this form I fear for Malawi, who the Cameroonians are meeting in the finals on Sunday. Although, the Cameroonian lionesses, save Bihina, are a pretty average team relying on their physicality- which Malawi ladies do not lack, and ofcourse their goal keeper, Michaely Bihina.
What the outcome of this Moroccan duel showed also is that 2 teams, Malawi and Cameroon, who defeated Nigeria are in the Wafcon 2026 finals, and only one of them can take the title from defending Champions, Nigeria, on Sunday. So those moaning and whining about the “fall of Nigerian women football” must take note!
Again, to same “inferiority complex” mentality afflicted commentators in CSN, who worship “White/Oyibo Coaches,” may I remind them that all the teams coached by your “white Coaches” have been defeated,and out of contention for the title, by indigenous national coaches for both Cameroon and Malawi ladies- the last man standing for the white coaches been, Jorge Vilda (who to be fair is not an inferior coach, having won the last-2023 Women’s WC with Spain) , whose wards was beaten last night, by Cameroonian team tutored by a native Cameroonian, Valentine Nguele.
I wish the Super Falcons of Nigeria very best of luck- yes, you do need luck in games, and that luck deserted them against the Cameroonians last Sunday- in their African play-in contest against the tricky South African Banyana team later today.
Stop being clever by half.
Both Cameroon and Malawi local coaches were “unfit” to sit on the benches since they don’t have uefa pro A licenses.
So, their national teams got technical advisers instead
For Cameroon, AI summary of his profile goes:
****
“*Dimitri Lipoff* is Cameroon’s Technical Coordinator for the Women’s National Team, and he brings serious international pedigree.
*Background*: French coach with 16 years experience as head coach and assistant, UEFA A licensed.
*As head coach*:
– *Al Ahly, Egypt*: won the Egyptian Cup in the team’s debut season + 2x Egyptian Women’s Premier League runner-up
– *SSD Napoli Femminile, Italy*: won Serie B and earned promotion to Serie A in 2023
– *Wuhan Jianghan University, China*: back-to-back Chinese Women’s Super League titles in 2020 and 2021
*As assistant*:
– *Jiangsu Suning*: part of historic quadruple in 2019 under Farid Benstiti
– *Dalian Quanjian*: 2 consecutive league titles
– *PSG*: reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2015 + 4x French league runner-up
– *Rossiyanka Moscow*: won the Russian league title
*Other work*: coached Morocco’s U-20 and U-23 teams, qualifying both for major tournaments and taking 3rd at the Pinatar Cup.
The big takeaway: very few coaches in women’s football have worked and won across Egypt, Italy, China, France, and Russia like he has.”
*****
And Cameroon, unlike some older the better people, took a lot of players under 25 in this WAFCON. Future in mind. Making history now.
Malawi is even insane.
The technical adviser only came 2 weeks to WAFCON and conjured the first debutant win against falcons in WAFCON 35 years history.
Against balon dor nominee lol, with “unknown” names except Chawinga sisters.
He is even South African and in one of his interviews with SABC after taking the job, Sudesh Singh, also supersport tv football analyst said something quite interesting (pay attention to the words in bold):
“We had a ten day camp in Malawi. I drew up the plans and structure. It has been one of the most challenging projects I’ve undertaken because I’M DOING BASICALLY EVERYTHING HERE besides driving the team bus.”
“There was initial resistance from some local coaches who were NOT SO ALIGNED WITH MODERN TRENDS. You’ve gotta compromise and be patient. But you don’t take your eye off the project”.
Coaches not so aligned with MODERN TRENDS.
Thankfully, Madugu should be gone after today.
Falcons deserve better, not coaches who bark orders as if the ladies on the pitch are still kids.
Next time, get your backroom staff news right.
Top Observation @TonyK
@Sly dey calm down this is not a show of AI nonsense. Enough of the ITK stuffs Abeg e no even join sense at all after reading those stuffs you put up there. Is it those stuffs you put up there that made the Keeper woman of the man in both games?
With such individual performances to carry her team against SF 10 saves and against Morocco Saving 4 penalties. Common be calming down there is no competition in observation let people express the truth.
We all dey express our truths in supposed decorum but when a “truther” write (above):
“Again, to same “inferiority complex” mentality afflicted commentators in CSN, who worship “White/Oyibo Coaches,” may I remind them that all the teams coached by your “white Coaches” have been defeated….”
The truth should be whole, not nuanced or partial.
If countries who know their local coaches “do not align with modern trends” can get them astute managers, nothing should deprive falcons players who are largely exposed to far better coaching in foreign leagues compared to most of the Moroccans and Malawians, to 1980 coaching methods in the national team as at 2026.
Period.
#GSMout (Gusau, Sanusi, Madugu OUT)
A funny catchphrase but unmistakable
What of blabber mouth Olajire? What of express yourself Eguavoen?
The catchphrase needs to accommodate these guys.
@Tony let’s stop lying to ourselves. Throughout the competition did you see any in-game technical difficulties out from our coach? The game against Cameroon was clear. Yes, Cameroon has a good GK, but if he did had added an additional striker we’d have found a way. Instead he maintained a back 4 that was hardly troubled for 90 mins and waited till the 90th min to bring in a second striker in a knockout game.
It’s not about skin color. We just want things to be done right! Starting with the NFF. Those guys have gotten too comfortable.
The Cameroonian goalie deserves to be the best goalie in africa this year
She has taking the Cameroonian team to the final
19/20 years delivering a good performance same cannot be said of our falcons
When i heard 7 of Cameroonian u20 female team are currently representing cameroon in this tournament making the difference one of dem score the goal that took us out..
Of course we have better and young girls in our youth system but the coach will just snub dem while a reasonable coach like Chelle travelling to watch our youth teams
Let’s see what happens today smh i have the feelings south africa go knack dem today
The falcons girls must have been told Madugu will not in the dugout again after today.
So, they should perform in spite of him today and get a coach who “aligns with modern trends” (apology to Malawi women Technical adviser lol) for the playoff.
Other local coaches of falcons with a minute number of talent the current squad boasts successful qualification to the world (6 of the 9 editions were powered by local coaches).
Now, one local coach who dislikes involving many youth in his setup because he likes players older lol not only didn’t reach the semis in the more important WAFCON but also 2 in first 4 WAFCON matches cleanly and conceding the worst falcons goals after a year of winning WAFCON with practically the same names.
Tueh.
The rest of Africa didn’t catch up with Nigeria.
Nigeria regressed badly.
If FIFA hadn’t increased the number of countries going to next year’s mundial, balon dor nominee for take us to Mars.
Lol.
Debutants.
Cameroon was also not in WAFCON 2026 mix until it was expanded.
Losing twice to them this year alone should be shameful at least.