Cameroon ends 3-final drought to win first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Title

■Marie Ngah Manga scores twice as Cameroon defeats tournament debutants Malawi to win Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on fourth attempt

BY DIRAMAKINI

CAMEROON were crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions for the first time on Sunday at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat after a dominant 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi in the final.

The Indomitable Lionesses broke their curse of three lost finals with goals from Marie Ngah Manga, who scored twice, and Naomi Eto.

Cameroon had previously lost in the final on all three of their last appearances, each time to 10-time winners Nigeria. They also missed the previous edition of the tournament.

Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a close-range header, before Eto doubled the lead with a brilliant turn and finish.

Ngah Manga then sealed the win on a break, heading in her second from an Eto cross for her fifth goal of the tournament.

“I feel like it’s a dream because you know Cameroon have been working hard to have this moment and today for us to be champion of Africa is a very, very wonderful thing,” Ngah Manga said.

Malawi started strongly but failed to break through a disciplined Cameroon defence. The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, threatened after the break.

Tabitha had a penalty appeal turned down by VAR and later forced a save from goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, with Temwa going close from the rebound.

Veteran Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné, who was part of the 2016 final loss to Nigeria, thought she had scored in stoppage time but the goal was ruled out for offside.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe attended the final and presented medals. Algeria beat hosts Morocco in the third-place playoff on Saturday.

Infantino and Motsepe were also photographed with Cameroon FA President Samuel Eto’o and Player of the Tournament Monique Ngock.