A New Era of Competition: WAFCON 2026 and the Rise of African Women’s Football

As the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) approaches its conclusion, one thing has become increasingly clear: African women’s football is becoming more competitive, and the gap between the continent’s established powers and its emerging nations is beginning to narrow.

This year’s tournament will produce a new champion.

Cameroon and Malawi will meet in Sunday’s final, with neither nation having previously lifted the WAFCON trophy. In fact, all four semi-finalists Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria and hosts Morocco entered the last four without a WAFCON title to their name. That guaranteed that, regardless of the final result, Africa would crown a new champion in 2026.

It is a significant development for a competition that has historically been dominated by a small group of nations.

Nigeria remains the record holders with 10 WAFCON titles, while South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana have also previously won the competition. But this edition has challenged some of those established expectations. Perhaps no team illustrates that better than Malawi.

The Scorchers arrived at WAFCON as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament and were making their debut at the competition. Instead of simply gaining experience, however, Malawi have gone all the way to the final.

Their historic campaign included a 2–1 quarter-final victory over Ghana, a result that also secured their qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. They then defeated Algeria 3–1 in the semi-final to book their place in their first-ever WAFCON final. 

For Malawi, the achievement goes beyond one tournament. Their progression represents a major milestone for a country that had never previously appeared at the WAFCON and now finds itself one match away from becoming African champions. 

The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, have been central to the Scorchers' campaign, providing much of the attacking threat that has helped carry the team into uncharted territory. 

Cameroon have provided another example of the changing landscape, although their route to the final has been built around a different kind of star. Michaely Kyria Bihina has emerged as one of the standout goalkeepers of the tournament, producing performances that have put her firmly in the spotlight.

The 22-year-old joined Portuguese club Benfica earlier this year after previously playing for Racing Power. Her performances in Portugal had already established her as a goalkeeper to watch, but WAFCON has provided her with a much bigger international stage.

Against defending champions Nigeria in the quarterfinals, Bihina produced nine saves as Cameroon secured a 1–0 victory and eliminated the record 10-time champions. Her performance earned her the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award.

If that was impressive, her semi-final performance against Morocco was arguably even more decisive.

After 120 minutes without a goal, Cameroon and the hosts went to a penalty shootout. Bihina became the difference-maker once again, helping Cameroon win 3–1 on penalties. She also saved a Morocco penalty during extra time before stopping three attempts in the shootout. Her performances have made her one of the faces of Cameroon's unexpected run to the final.

Bihina's emergence is also representative of a broader trend in women's football. African players are increasingly gaining opportunities in professional leagues outside the continent, while international tournaments are providing them with platforms to attract greater attention.

In Bihina's case, that journey has taken her from Racing Power to Benfica and now to becoming one of the key figures in Cameroon's pursuit of a first WAFCON title since reaching the final in 2016. Cameroon is returning to the final for the first time in a decade. 

Her story and Malawi's campaign offer two different perspectives on the same development. 

Bihina represents the emergence of individual African talent capable of performing on major stages. Malawi represents the emergence of national teams outside the traditional power structure. Together, they illustrate why the competitiveness of this year's WAFCON is worth noting.

Women's football continues to grow internationally, and that growth is not only about increased visibility, attendance or investment. Competitiveness matters too. When more nations believe they can challenge established teams, the tournament becomes less predictable and creates more opportunities for players and federations to develop.

WAFCON 2026 has provided exactly that.

The defending champions were eliminated in the quarterfinals. The hosts, Morocco, fell short in the semi-finals despite home support. Algeria reached their first WAFCON semi-final, while Malawi, competing in the tournament for the first time, have gone one step further and reached the final. Cameroon, meanwhile, have returned to the final after a decade away. 

The final between Cameroon and Malawi therefore represents more than a battle for continental silverware. It is a meeting between two teams chasing their first WAFCON title, and a reflection of a women's game in which the traditional hierarchy is increasingly being challenged.

For Malawi, it is the culmination of a remarkable debut campaign.

For Cameroon, it is an opportunity to finally turn years of near misses into a first continental title.

For Bihina, it is another chance to transform a breakthrough tournament into a defining moment in her career.

And for African women's football, it is perhaps the clearest indication yet that the next generation of contenders is already here.