WeeklySA_AdminCLIMAX: Malawi and Cameroon prepare to battle for a maiden continental crown in Sunday’s historic WAFCON final while South Africa look ahead to securing their World Cup dream…
By WSAM Sports Reporter
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations heads towards a historic conclusion in Morocco as Banyana Banyana kept their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup hopes alive with a dramatic 2–1 victory over Nigeria on Thursday night.
The spotlight is on the imminent crowning of new champions in Rabat, where Malawi and Cameroon will contest the WAFCON final on Sunday at 20h00 local time — the same time in South Africa.
Whatever the outcome, the tournament will crown a first-time champion.
Malawi have produced one of the most extraordinary debut campaigns in African football history. The Scorchers progressed from the group stage before defeating Ghana 2–1 in the quarter-finals, a victory which also secured automatic qualification for their first Women’s World Cup.
They followed that breakthrough with an emphatic 3–1 semi-final victory over Algeria.
At the centre of Malawi’s remarkable progress have been sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, whose pace, movement and finishing have given the debutants one of the most dangerous attacks in the tournament.
Temwa heads into the final among the competition’s leading scorers, while Tabitha’s experience and direct running have repeatedly unsettled opposing defences. Their partnership gives Malawi the firepower to trouble a Cameroon side built around defensive discipline.
The Indomitable Lionesses are back in the final for the first time in 10 years. They last reached the decider in 2016, when they lost to Nigeria on home soil.
Cameroon gained a measure of revenge in this year’s quarter-finals by defeating the defending champions 1–0. They then frustrated hosts Morocco through 120 goalless minutes in the semi-final before winning the penalty shoot-out 3–1.
Goalkeeper Michaely Kyria Bihina was central to that victory, producing decisive saves as Cameroon silenced the partisan crowd at Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Sunday’s final therefore presents a fascinating contest between Malawi’s adventurous attacking football and Cameroon’s resilience, organisation and greater experience of high-pressure matches.
Malawi are seeking to complete a fairytale debut by becoming continental champions at their first attempt. Cameroon, runners-up on three previous occasions, are determined to end decades of disappointment and finally lift the trophy.
Beyond the title, the winners will receive the substantially increased prize of US$2 million (R32m) — one of the largest awards in women’s international football.
Meanwhile, South Africa revived their World Cup dreams through second-half goals from Thembi Kgatlana and captain Refiloe Jane, carrying Banyana Banyana past the record 10-time African champions in Thursday night’s decisive play-off in Casablanca.
The victory earned Desiree Ellis’s side a place in the FIFA inter-confederation play-offs, where they will have one final opportunity to qualify for the global showpiece in Brazil.
South Africa and Nigeria had entered the match after losing their quarter-finals to Morocco and Cameroon respectively. With automatic qualification reserved for the four semi-finalists, the continental heavyweights were left fighting for another route to Brazil.
After a closely contested opening half, Kgatlana broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. Banyana attacked with pace and opened the Nigerian defence before the striker finished clinically to put South Africa ahead.
Jane doubled the advantage in the 77th minute when her shot from inside the penalty area took a deflection and wrong-footed Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
But the captain’s evening ended prematurely when she was sent off following a late handball incident. Christy Ucheibe converted the resulting penalty in the third minute of added time, giving the Super Falcons hope of forcing extra time.
Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then made a crucial save during the final attack to preserve Banyana’s lead and condemn Nigeria to a 2–1 defeat. The result means the Super Falcons, ever-present at the Women’s World Cup since its launch in 1991, will miss the tournament for the first time.
South Africa’s campaign had begun with a shock 2–1 defeat by Tanzania before Ellis’s team recovered to reach the quarter-finals. They were eliminated from the title race by hosts Morocco but responded strongly when presented with a second opportunity to keep their World Cup ambitions alive.
Ghana secured Africa’s other place in the inter-confederation play-offs by coming from behind to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2–1.
Inès Konan gave the Ivorians an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Black Queens turned the contest around through second-half goals from Princess Marfo and Josephine Bonsu. CAF confirmed Ghana’s 2–1 victory, which keeps their hopes of returning to the World Cup alive.
For Banyana, the victory over Nigeria does not yet guarantee qualification. South Africa must still negotiate the inter-confederation tournament to secure what would be a third successive World Cup appearance after competing in France in 2019 and Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Before the final, hosts Morocco will meet Algeria in a North African derby in Saturday’s bronze-medal match at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium.
But the tournament’s defining moment will arrive on Sunday. Malawi have already made history, while Cameroon have overcome the defending champions and hosts. One final victory will place either the Scorchers or Indomitable Lionesses at the summit of African women’s football.
