On a thrilling Wednesday night, Cameroon achieved a significant milestone by reaching the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in Morocco. This remarkable feat came after they triumphed over the host nation, Morocco, through a nail-biting penalty shootout, winning 3-1 following a tense and goalless semi-final match held at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The match saw both teams battling fiercely for 120 minutes without finding the back of the net. However, the turning point came when Morocco's Fatima Tagnaout missed a crucial penalty during extra time, a moment that would haunt the hosts as they fell short of securing a victory.
In the shootout, Cameroon displayed remarkable composure, successfully converting three of their four attempts. Marie Ngah, Rose Bella, and Myriam Nyadjou were all on target for the Indomitable Lionesses, while Morocco could only manage one successful penalty, converted by Hanane Aït El Haj. Unfortunately for the Atlas Lionesses, Kenza Chapelle, Meryem Atiq, and Sakina Ouzraoui all failed to score, sealing a 3-1 victory for Cameroon. This win marks another significant achievement for Cameroon, who previously eliminated defending champions Nigeria with a narrow 1-0 victory in the quarter-finals, showcasing their growing strength in the tournament.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
The semi-final match began with both teams adopting a cautious approach, clearly aware of the high stakes involved. Morocco, encouraged by their home crowd, aimed to exploit the flanks and gain control of possession, while Cameroon maintained a disciplined and compact formation, balancing their defensive responsibilities with offensive aspirations. As the game progressed, neither team could break the deadlock, with both defenses proving to be resolute and effective.
After halftime, Morocco intensified their efforts, with coach Jorge Vilda making strategic substitutions to inject fresh attacking energy into the team. Despite their attempts, including bringing on Fatima Tagnaout to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Cameroon’s organized defense continued to thwart Morocco's efforts. As the match neared its conclusion without a goal, the tension mounted, leading to extra time.
In a dramatic twist during the 118th minute of extra time, Morocco was awarded a penalty, presenting them with a golden chance to secure their place in the final. However, Tagnaout’s failure to convert the penalty proved to be a decisive moment in the match, as the game proceeded to a shootout after 120 minutes of play without goals.
Cameroon's Redemption in Penalty Shootouts
The penalty shootout began with Morocco taking the lead when Aït El Haj successfully converted their first attempt. However, the momentum shifted when Chapelle missed Morocco's second penalty. Cameroon showcased a different level of composure under pressure, with Ngah scoring their first penalty, followed by a miss from Grace Mendoua on their second attempt. Bella subsequently restored Cameroon's lead, while Atiq failed to capitalize on Morocco's third chance. Nyadjou then sealed the victory for Cameroon by scoring their fourth penalty, while Ouzraoui's subsequent miss for Morocco confirmed a 3-1 triumph for the Indomitable Lionesses.
This victory is particularly significant for Cameroon, marking a redemption after previously losing all three of their past WAFCON penalty shootouts, including a semi-final loss to Nigeria in 2018. With this win, they have successfully navigated through knockout matches against formidable opponents, including Nigeria and Morocco, and are now on the brink of claiming the title as they advance to the continental final. For Morocco, this defeat ends their hopes of reaching a third consecutive WAFCON final and capturing their first African title on home soil, a painful outcome for the Atlas Lionesses.
As reported by cafonline.com.
