Cameroon reach WAFCON final after Bihina saves four penalties in Rabat
Michaely Bihina saved an extra-time penalty and four spot-kicks as Cameroon beat hosts Morocco on penalties in Rabat on Wednesday to reach the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final. The match finished 0-0 after 120 minutes before Cameroon won the shootout 3-1, with Bihina denying Fatima Tagnaout in the 118th minute and then stopping three penalties from the spot.
Cameroon return to the WAFCON final for the first time since 2016, securing a place in Sunday’s final (19:00 GMT) against Malawi, who beat Algeria 3-1 earlier on Wednesday. The Indomitable Lionesses reached the tournament despite having been knocked out in qualifying and progressing to the finals on the strength of their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football expanded the competition to 16 teams midway through the preliminary process.
The decisive moments came at the end of extra time and in the shootout: Bihina pushed away Tagnaout's penalty in the 118th minute to keep the score level, then saved penalties from Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui. Teenage defender Maryam Nyadjou converted the winning spot-kick to secure a 3-1 shootout victory for Cameroon.
Morocco dominated possession but created surprisingly few clear chances during open play. Sanaa Mssoudy struck the right-hand upright in the 14th minute from a Hanane Ait El Haj cross and later hit the side-netting on the hour; Imane Saoud shot straight at Bihina, Mssoudy headed wide and Michaela Abam fired over, while Abam had a shot blocked in extra time and Atiq headed over in the second period of extra time.
The match's key incident came after a VAR review when Togolese official Vincentia Amedome decided Nyadjou had "caught Ouzraoui in the face with her arm," awarding Morocco a penalty in the 118th minute. Ait El Haj had converted from the spot in the quarter-final win over South Africa, but substitute Tagnaout took the kick in Rabat and her tame left-footed effort was palmed away by Bihina.
Bihina, who plays in her homeland for Benfica, also produced nine saves in Cameroon’s quarter-final upset against Nigeria and was the standout performer again in Rabat. Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi kept her side in the shootout by saving an effort from Grace Mendoua, but she was unable to match Bihina’s returns, and the Moulay Hassan Stadium fell silent after the decisive saves.
Morocco arrive at the semi-final defeat after significant domestic investment and the appointment of Jorge Vilda; they were runners-up in 2022 and reached the final of the delayed 2024 WAFCON last July, having surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead against Nigeria in that decider. The loss ends their bid to claim a first continental crown in this tournament.
Cameroon will meet Malawi in Sunday’s final at 19:00 GMT, with coach Valentine Nguele, who only took charge in June, set to prepare her side to contend with the threat of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa when the two teams meet.
