Cameroon and Malawi will clash on Sunday in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, with both nations chasing a first-ever continental title. The matchup has surprised many observers, as neither side was widely tipped to reach the championship game, marking a notable shift in African women’s football.
Why is this final considered a surprise?
Neither Cameroon nor Malawi were seen as traditional powerhouses of the competition before this tournament, yet both have advanced past more established rivals to reach the final. Their progress underscores a broader change in the balance of power across African women’s football, with emerging teams increasingly able to challenge the sport’s established order.
Cameroon enters the final as the slight favorite, largely due to the form of standout goalkeeper Mikaela Behina, whose performances have been central to the team’s defensive solidity throughout the tournament.
What are Malawi’s chances of winning?
Malawi’s hopes rest heavily on its attacking strength, spearheaded by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, who have been instrumental in the team’s offensive output on the road to the final. Their combined threat in front of goal gives Malawi a genuine chance of causing an upset against a Cameroon side considered the stronger overall unit.
Both teams are within touching distance of history, chasing a title neither has ever won.
What is at stake in Sunday’s final?
Beyond the trophy itself, Sunday’s match in Rabat represents a historic opportunity for either Cameroon or Malawi to secure its first continental women’s football title. The outcome will be closely watched as a marker of how far women’s football has developed in nations not traditionally associated with the top tier of the African game.
