From Malawi’s fairytale run to Cameroon’s long-awaited triumph, the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations delivered one of the most unpredictable editions in recent history.

Rabat, Morocco (Running Africa) — The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) delivered upsets, breakout stars, and history at almost every turn.

Cameroon finally ended its long wait for a first African title. Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world before the tournament, transformed their WAFCON debut into an extraordinary run to the final. And Nigeria, the continent’s most successful women’s football nation, saw an uninterrupted FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification record dating back to 1991 come to an end.

Individual stars also emerged. Temwa Chawinga claimed the Golden Boot, Monique Ngock was named Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Michaely Bihina became one of the defining figures of Cameroon’s championship run.

Here are five major highlights from WAFCON 2026 and what they could mean for the changing landscape of African women’s football.

1. Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga Powered Malawi’s Fairytale WAFCON Run

Few stories captured WAFCON 2026 quite like Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.

Malawi arrived in Morocco for their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, ranked 153rd in the world and with little expectation of challenging Africa’s established powers.

The Chawinga sisters helped change that almost immediately.

The Scorchers announced themselves by stunning 10-time African champions Nigeria in the group stage, then continued their remarkable campaign against Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds.

Against Algeria in the semi-final, Tabitha scored twice, and Temwa added another as Malawi secured a 3-1 victory and reached their first WAFCON final.

Temwa finished the tournament with five goals to win the WAFCON Golden Boot, while the sisters became the faces of one of the most memorable underdog campaigns in African women’s football.

Malawi eventually fell short against Cameroon in the final, but their tournament had already rewritten the country’s football history — including securing a first-ever place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

2. Cameroon Finally Became WAFCON Champions

After decades of near misses, Cameroon finally had its moment.

The Indomitable Lionesses defeated Malawi 3-0 in the WAFCON 2026 final in Rabat to claim their first continental championship.

Cameroon had previously reached the final in 1998, 2014, and 2016, losing on all three occasions. Their fourth attempt ended differently.

Their path to the trophy included eliminating Nigeria in the quarter-finals and surviving a dramatic semi-final against hosts Morocco before producing a dominant performance when the title was on the line.

Marie Ngah Manga scored twice in the final, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto added another as Cameroon put the contest beyond Malawi with three first-half goals.

The victory made Cameroon only the fourth country to win WAFCON, joining Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa.

For a nation that had spent years among Africa’s strongest women’s football teams without lifting the trophy, the wait was finally over.

3. Nigeria’s Historic Women’s World Cup Streak Came to an End

Perhaps the most consequential shock of the tournament came through Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Super Falcons entered WAFCON as Africa’s most decorated women’s national team, but endured a campaign that included defeat to Malawi and elimination by Cameroon in the quarter-finals.

That left Nigeria needing to navigate the World Cup qualification play-offs.

A 2-1 defeat to South Africa ended those hopes.

The result means Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1991, bringing one of international women’s football’s longest-running qualification streaks to an end.

For the 10-time African champions, the failure represents a major setback.

For the rest of the continent, it offered further evidence that the traditional hierarchy of African women’s football is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

4. Michaely Bihina Became Cameroon’s Penalty-Saving Hero

Cameroon’s first WAFCON title was built on more than goals.

Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout performers, producing crucial saves throughout the knockout rounds.

Her defining moment came in the semi-final against hosts Morocco, where her penalty heroics helped send Cameroon into the final.

Bihina’s performances provided the security Cameroon needed during some of their most difficult moments and ultimately earned her recognition as the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper.

While Ngah Manga and Ndjoah Eto delivered the goals in the final, Bihina’s contribution throughout the knockout stages was equally important to Cameroon’s historic championship.

5. A New Generation of African Women’s Football Stars Emerged

WAFCON 2026 demonstrated that elite women’s football talent is increasingly emerging from across the continent rather than only its traditional powerhouses.

Cameroon midfielder Monique Ngock was named Player of the Tournament, rewarding her influence during the Indomitable Lionesses’ championship campaign.

Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga took home the Golden Boot with five goals, while Bihina’s performances earned her the Best Goalkeeper award.

Beyond the individual honors, the tournament introduced a wider group of players and teams to continental and global audiences.

Malawi’s rise was perhaps the clearest example. Few would have predicted before the tournament that the Scorchers would reach the final and qualify for a World Cup.

WAFCON 2026 Changed the African Women’s Football Landscape

WAFCON 2026 will be remembered for more than Cameroon lifting the trophy.

It was the tournament in which Malawi emerged from relative obscurity to become continental finalists, Cameroon finally turned years of promise into a championship, and Nigeria lost a World Cup qualification record that had survived for more than three decades.

It also produced a new group of stars ready to carry African women’s football onto the global stage.

With Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco, and Algeria heading to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, the continent will arrive with a different set of teams and personalities, reflecting its changing football landscape.

If WAFCON 2026 proved anything, it is that the gap between Africa’s traditional powers and its emerging challengers is narrowing — and predictability can no longer be taken for granted.