Cameroon’s historic triumph at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been reflected in the tournament’s Best XI, with the newly crowned champions supplying four players to the selection.
The Indomitable Lionesses won their first WAFCON title after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat on August 16, completing a remarkable campaign that saw them eliminate defending champions Nigeria and hosts Morocco before lifting the trophy.
Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, defender Myriam Nyadjou, midfielder Monique Ngock and forward Marie Ngah were the four Cameroonians named in the reported Best XI.
Bihina was one of the outstanding performers of the tournament.
The goalkeeper produced a string of crucial saves in Cameroon’s 1-0 quarter-final victory over Nigeria before becoming the heroine of the semi-final against Morocco.
After 120 goalless minutes, Bihina saved a penalty during extra time and then stopped three efforts in the shootout as Cameroon defeated the hosts 3-1 on penalties.
Her performances earned her the Golden Glove, while Ngock was named Player of the Tournament.
Ngah also finished the competition with five goals, playing a key role in Cameroon’s historic title run.
The reported Best XI also includes Algeria’s Ines Belloumou and Marine Dafeur, Morocco’s Nohaila Benzina and Hanane Aït El Haj, Malawi’s Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, and Zambia captain Barbra Banda.
Bihina occupies the goalkeeper position, with Belloumou, Benzina, Nyadjou and Aït El Haj forming the defence.
Ngock, Temwa Chawinga and Dafeur make up the midfield, while Tabitha Chawinga, Ngah and Banda form the attacking trio.
Cameroon coach Valentine Nguele was named head coach of the selection after guiding the team to its first-ever WAFCON championship.
Nguele’s achievement is notable considering that she took charge of the team only shortly before the tournament. Her side responded by producing one of the biggest upsets of the competition against Nigeria before eliminating Morocco on penalties.
Malawi also earned significant recognition after reaching their first WAFCON final. The Chawinga sisters were central to the Scorchers’ historic run, with Temwa finishing among the tournament’s leading scorers.
For Nigeria, however, the competition ended in a historic setback.
The Super Falcons were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals before losing 2-1 to South Africa in the World Cup qualification play-off.
The result meant Nigeria missed the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, ending the country’s record of appearing at every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1991.
The 2026 WAFCON also represented a major change in the qualification pathway. The expanded 16-team competition served as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup, with the four semi-finalists earning direct qualification and the losing quarter-finalists entering play-offs for two places in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
Cameroon’s first continental title therefore carries significance beyond the trophy itself. The Lionesses have emerged as the new champions of African women’s football, while the performances of Bihina, Ngock, Nyadjou and Ngah have ensured that Cameroon’s historic campaign is strongly represented in the tournament’s individual honours.
