Cameroon shock Morocco on penalties to reach WAFCON 2026 Final
Cameroon produced another major upset at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, defeating hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties after a dramatic 0-0 draw in Rabat to book a place in the final.
The Indomitable Lionesses held their nerve from the spot at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou converting their penalties. Morocco managed only one successful kick through Hanane Aït El Haj as the hosts suffered a heartbreaking exit.
The victory sends Cameroon into their fourth WAFCON final and keeps alive their bid to win the continental title for the first time.
Morocco miss late penalty in extra time
The defining moment came in the 118th minute, when Morocco were awarded a penalty with the score still goalless. Fatima Tagnaout stepped forward knowing a goal would almost certainly send the Atlas Lionesses into a third consecutive WAFCON final.
Instead, she failed to convert, handing Cameroon a dramatic lifeline and shifting the psychological momentum ahead of the shootout.
Few chances in a tense semi-final
The match itself was a cautious affair. Morocco enjoyed more possession and looked to attack through the wide areas, while Cameroon remained compact and disciplined throughout.
Both defences controlled long stretches of the contest, and clear-cut chances were scarce before the game moved into extra time. Morocco increased the intensity after the break and introduced fresh attacking options from the bench, but Cameroon continued to frustrate the hosts.
Shootout drama in Rabat
Morocco began the shootout positively when Aït El Haj converted the opening penalty, but their advantage disappeared quickly as Kenza Chapelle missed the second attempt.
Cameroon responded confidently through Ngah, and although Grace Mendoua missed for the visitors, Morocco failed to take advantage. Meryem Atiq missed the hosts’ third penalty before Bella restored Cameroon’s lead.
Nyadjou then scored Cameroon’s fourth penalty, and Sakina Ouzraoui missed Morocco’s next effort, sealing the shootout victory.
Cameroon break penalty curse
The result carried added significance for Cameroon, who had lost all three previous WAFCON penalty shootouts, including a semi-final defeat to Nigeria in 2018.
After eliminating defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals, Cameroon have now knocked out the tournament hosts as well, underlining the scale of their achievement in Morocco.
Cameroon will now contest the WAFCON 2026 final, while Morocco’s wait for a first African women’s title continues despite hosting the tournament for a third consecutive edition.
The Atlas Lionesses had reached the previous two finals, losing to South Africa in 2022 and Nigeria in 2024, but were unable to complete the final step on home soil this time.
For Cameroon, a campaign that began with modest expectations has become a remarkable run, and the Indomitable Lionesses are now just one victory away from being crowned African champions.
SportsLigue
