Heroic Performance by Michaely Bihina in Women's Africa Cup Semifinal
Michaely Bihina emerged as the standout star in a thrilling semifinal match, leading the Cameroon women's national football team to the finals of the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. The 22-year-old goalkeeper showcased her exceptional skills by saving a penalty in the dying moments of extra time and then thwarting three more attempts during the penalty shootout against host nation Morocco. This remarkable performance not only secured a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes of intense play in Rabat but also propelled Cameroon to the final for the first time since 2016. Bihina’s critical save came at the 118th minute when she expertly blocked Fatima Tagnaout's penalty, much to the disbelief of the Moroccan crowd at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. Following this, she made breathtaking saves from Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq, and Sakina Ouzraoui, further silencing the stadium and sealing Cameroon’s victory in the shootout with a score of 3-1.
The Indomitable Lionesses will now face Malawi in the final on Sunday at 19:00 GMT, following South Africa's earlier 3-1 defeat of Algeria. Notably, Cameroon’s journey to the finals is particularly remarkable given that they had been eliminated during the qualification rounds, only securing their place in the tournament based on their FIFA ranking after the Confederation of African Football decided to expand the tournament to 16 teams.
Morocco's Heartbreak in Front of Home Fans
In a match filled with high stakes and missed opportunities, Morocco faced a bitter disappointment as they were unable to capitalize on their home advantage. Despite controlling possession for much of the game, the Moroccan team struggled to convert their chances against a well-organized and disciplined Cameroonian defense. The opening moments saw Morocco nearly take the lead when Sanaa Mssoudy hit the post with a header from a cross delivered by Hanane Ait El Haj. As the match progressed, Morocco continued to press, but their efforts were thwarted time and again by Bihina’s heroics. A series of missed opportunities, including a direct shot from Imane Saoud that went straight to the goalkeeper, left Morocco searching for answers.
The pivotal moment came late in the second period of extra time when a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review awarded Morocco a crucial penalty. However, Tagnaout’s timid attempt was brilliantly saved by Bihina, who has already proven herself in previous matches, including a stunning performance against Nigeria in the quarterfinals. Although Khadija Er-Rmichi kept Morocco in contention with a save against Grace Mendoua, she ultimately could not match Bihina's extraordinary display.
This semifinal loss is a significant setback for Morocco, which has invested heavily in women's football over recent years, including hiring Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, a World Cup winner with hopes of clinching their first continental title. Following a second-place finish in 2022 and a near miss in the 2024 Wafcon final against Nigeria, where they squandered a 2-0 lead, Morocco was poised for success but fell short once again.
As Cameroon prepares to return to the finals for the first time since 2016, they will be looking to overcome their previous record of three final losses. Under the guidance of newly appointed coach Valentine Nguele, the team aims to neutralize the threats posed by Malawi’s talented Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, when they clash on Sunday. Regardless of the outcome, the tournament promises to etch a new name onto the trophy, marking a turning point in the history of African women's football.
As reported by bbc.com.
