The Cameroon women’s national football team pulled off a breathtaking upset on Wednesday night, defeating host nation Morocco 3-1 on penalties in Rabat to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final.
Extra-Time Penalty Drama
The highly physical semi-final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium remained a tense, goalless stalemate through regular playing time. With just three minutes left in extra time, the stadium erupted when Morocco was awarded a golden opportunity from the penalty spot.
Tens of thousands of home fans held their breath as Moroccan star Fatima Tagnaout stepped up to blast home the apparent winner. However, Cameroon’s unstoppable 22-year-old goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina, pulled off a miraculous 118th-minute save to deny the hosts and force the match into a penalty shootout.
Bihina Becomes the Ultimate Shootout Heroine
Building on her late-game momentum, the SL Benfica shot-stopper completely took over the deciding penalty shootout:
- Three Shootout Saves: Bihina guessed correctly to keep out successive Moroccan spot-kicks from Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq, and Sakina Ouzraoui.
- The Clincher: Teenage defender Maryam Nyadjou held her nerve to slot home the final penalty, sealing a 3-1 shootout victory.
- Back-to-Back Honors: Following her brilliant display against Nigeria in the quarterfinals, Bihina earned her second consecutive Woman of the Match award.
David vs. Goliath Final Scheduled
The Indomitable Lionesses’ fairy-tale run is made even more spectacular by the fact that they were originally knocked out in qualifying, entering the tournament only because of CAF’s mid-cycle expansion loop. Cameroon will now advance to face tournament debutants and tournament newbies, Malawi, in the grand WAFCON final on Sunday evening
