Cameroon beat Morocco on penalties to reach WAFCON final

Cameroon stunned hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties on Wednesday night to reach the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after a dramatic goalless semi-final in Rabat.

The Indomitable Lionesses held their nerve in the shootout at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium after 120 minutes failed to produce a goal, while Morocco were left to rue a late penalty miss by Fatima Tagnaout in extra time, a post match report on CAF website noted.

Tagnaout had the chance to send the hosts into the final in the 118th minute after Morocco were awarded a penalty, but she failed to convert, leaving the contest scoreless.

The miss proved costly as Cameroon went on to prevail in the shootout.

Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou converted for Cameroon, while Hanane Aït El Haj scored Morocco’s only successful penalty.

Kenza Chapelle, Meryem Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui all missed for the Atlas Lionesses as Cameroon secured their fourth WAFCON final appearance.

The result also ends Morocco’s hopes of reaching the continental showpiece for a third consecutive edition.

The semi-final began cautiously, with both teams reluctant to take unnecessary risks.

Morocco, backed by a passionate home crowd, looked to exploit the flanks and control possession, while Cameroon remained compact and disciplined.

Neither side created a clear breakthrough before half-time as both defences largely kept the opposing attacks under control.

Morocco increased the tempo after the restart, with coach Jorge Vilda turning to his bench in search of greater attacking threat.

Ibtissam Jraidi and Nouhaila Badri were withdrawn, while Tagnaout was among the players introduced to help the hosts find a breakthrough.

Cameroon, however, remained organised and frustrated Morocco until the end of regulation time.

Extra time followed, with the match appearing destined for penalties before Morocco were handed their biggest opportunity in the 118th minute.

Tagnaout stepped up but could not convert the decisive spot-kick, sending the semi-final into a shootout.

Morocco had previously won their last two WAFCON semi-finals on penalties, against Nigeria in 2022 and Ghana in 2024.

Their fortunes changed this time.

Aït El Haj converted Morocco’s opening penalty, but Chapelle missed their second.

Cameroon’s Ngah scored before Grace Mendoua missed the Indomitable Lionesses’ second attempt.

Bella then converted to restore Cameroon’s advantage, while Atiq failed to score Morocco’s third.

Nyadjou successfully converted Cameroon’s fourth penalty, leaving Ouzraoui needing to score to keep Morocco alive.

She missed, confirming Cameroon’s 3-1 shootout victory.

The result is particularly significant for Cameroon, who had lost their previous three WAFCON penalty shootouts, including a semi-final defeat by Nigeria in 2018.

The Indomitable Lionesses have now eliminated defending champions Nigeria and hosts Morocco in successive knockout rounds to reach the final.

For Morocco, the defeat ends their attempt to reach a third successive WAFCON final and win their first continental title on home soil.

Cameroon, meanwhile, are now one victory away from claiming the African women’s football crown.