WAFCON 2026 Final Frenzy: Cameroon & Malawi Clash for Glory as Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina Takes Center Stage!

The stage is officially set for an extraordinary conclusion to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. After weeks of brilliant performances, dramatic turnarounds, and historic moments across five venues in Rabat and Casablanca, two teams have navigated the knockout rounds to book their spots in Sunday’s grand finale: Cameroon and Malawi. With former winners and host nations eliminated, Africa is guaranteed a brand-new champion on Sunday, 16th August 2026, when both sides line up at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat at 8:00 PM WAT. Both nations earned their places in the showpiece following dramatic semi-final victories on Wednesday, 12th August. They have also secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, alongside Morocco and Algeria, making the WAFCON trophy the ultimate prize.

Tournament debutants Malawi extended their fairytale run with a dominant 3-1 victory over Algeria in their semi-final clash. Captain Tabitha Chawinga scored twice, alongside her sister Temwa Chawinga, continuing an extraordinary attacking partnership that has defined their journey to the final and their historic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Meanwhile, four-time finalists Cameroon reached the main event by defeating host nation Morocco 3-1 in a tense penalty shootout after a goalless 120 minutes. Shot-stopper Michaely Bihina delivered another masterclass between the posts, stopping an extra-time penalty before making crucial saves in the shootout alongside Myriam Maéva Nyadjou, who converted the decisive kick.

Sunday’s encounter brings together two distinct footballing styles: Malawi’s relentless frontline led by the dynamic Chawinga sisters against Cameroon’s disciplined defensive setup guided by the formidable Bihina and forward Nyadjou, who also scored the winning goal against defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

One name dominating sports conversations across the continent is Michaely Bihina. The 22-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper has been central to her nation’s run to the final, producing memorable performances. Her rise to continental spotlight reached a high point during Cameroon’s tense 1-0 quarter-final victory against defending champions Nigeria. Bihina pulled off nine vital saves throughout the encounter to preserve the lead, earning her the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award and helping secure Cameroon’s automatic ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. She followed that up in the semi-finals against host nation Morocco, where she stopped an extra-time penalty before saving three additional spot-kicks in the penalty shootout to send the Indomitable Lionesses straight into the WAFCON final. With three clean sheets and two TotalEnergies Woman of the Match awards in this tournament alone, her presence in goal has been pivotal to Cameroon’s success.

Born Kyria Inès Michaely Bihina on 28th December 2003, in Ekounou, Nkoldongo, Yaoundé, the 1.77-metre shot-stopper did not actually start out in goal. During her early days playing youth football in Yaoundé, she played as a striker. However, as she grew noticeably taller than her peers, her youth coach suggested that her height and reach would be better suited between the goalposts. The transition was swift; within six months of making the switch, she earned her first call-up to the national youth setup. Bihina made her top-flight domestic debut with Canon of Yaoundé before joining Nkoldongo, where she represented Cameroon at the 2019 African Games at just 15 years old. She later moved to Eclair FF de Sa’a in October 2019, where she was even deployed as an occasional forward due to her overall pitch awareness. In August 2022, she made her European move to Portuguese side Racing Power, helping them win the second division title, gain promotion, and finish third in the top flight—where she picked up the award for the best goalkeeper in the league after keeping 14 clean sheets during the 2023-2024 season. That impressive form prompted European giants SL Benfica to sign her on 1st February 2026, where she went on to win both the Portuguese League and Portuguese Cup double in her debut months. Having made her senior international debut for Cameroon in September 2023 with a clean sheet against Kenya, Bihina has rapidly established herself on the global stage. As Cameroon gears up to face Malawi, all eyes will undoubtedly be on the shot-stopper.

For football fans across Africa and around the world following Sunday evening’s match, live television coverage and streaming broadcasts will be accessible across major networks. Nigerian viewers can watch on SuperSport Football Plus (DStv Channel 202, GOtv Channel 61) via MultiChoice, as well as streaming via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream, with free-to-air coverage also accessible via NTA and AfroSport TV. Sub-Saharan Africa will see the match broadcast live in high definition across the region on SuperSport and Canal+ Sport. Local terrestrial networks, including CRTV in Cameroon and MBC in Malawi, will provide live coverage for viewers in both finalist nations. Additionally, live match feeds will stream globally via CAF’s official YouTube channel (CAF TV) depending on regional broadcasting rights, and live coverage across North Africa and the Middle East will air on beIN Sports.