Cameroon saw off Malawi 3-0 in the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday evening, sealing the tournament with a performance that valued efficiency over possession. The hosts opened the scoring inside the first quarter when Marie Ngah found space in the box to slot home, and here's the thing — she would add another just before the break to put the match beyond doubt.
Naomi Eto doubled her tally with two quick-fire strikes in the twenty-ninth and thirtieth minutes, a sequence that shifted the momentum entirely. Cameroon kept probing, and Ngah's second goal at 45-plus-three minutes confirmed the superiority of their movement in the final third. Malawi responded with substitutions but could not find a foothold.
The second half saw both sides reshuffle, with Cameroon bringing on Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck in the seventy-first minute. Malawi's attempts to close the gap were met with disciplined defending, and a late goal at 90-plus-three minutes — though unattributed in the record — added further certainty to the result. Yellow cards for Njoya Toko and Gabrielle Onguene closed out the proceedings.
By then, the statistics told a familiar story: Malawi held 53 per cent of possession and registered 92 attacks, yet Cameroon's 43 per cent shot accuracy produced six attempts on target compared to Malawi's three. The hosts had fewer corners and fewer throw-ins, but their clinical edge made the difference. To be fair, cup football often rewards those who take their chances when they come.
Cameroon finish top of the group standings on seven points from three games, with two victories and a draw, while Malawi sit third on six points after their solitary defeat. The gap between them — just one point — suggests the tournament remains wide open, but this result puts the Cameroonian side firmly in control of their destiny.