From Nigeria To Cameroon: Full List Of WAFCON Champions

From Nigeria To Cameroon: Full List Of WAFCON Champions

By Niyi Busari 

Cameroon have been crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions for the first time after defeating Malawi 3–0 in the 2026 final in Rabat, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Indomitable Lionesses made history on Sunday, August 16, producing a dominant first-half performance to claim their maiden WAFCON title and become the fourth nation to win the competition.

Marie Ngah Manga scored twice, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto added another as Cameroon raced into a 3–0 lead before half-time. The victory ended Cameroon's wait for a first continental crown after previous final defeats and secured their place in WAFCON history.

Cameroon's triumph also means the list of WAFCON winners now contains four countries: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cameroon.

Who has won the WAFCON?

Nigeria remain the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with 10 officially recognised WAFCON titles. Equatorial Guinea have won the tournament twice, while South Africa and Cameroon have one title each.

Nigeria won their most recent title in 2025, when the Super Falcons produced a remarkable comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3–2 in the final in Rabat.

Trailing 2–0 at half-time, Nigeria scored three times after the break through Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and Joe Echegini to secure their 10th official WAFCON crown.

The tournament was officially designated the 2024 WAFCON, although it was played in Morocco from July 5 to July 26, 2025 after its schedule was postponed. CAF refers to the competition as the 2024 edition played in 2025.

A new champion in 2026

The 2026 tournament marked a significant change in the history of the competition, with the finals expanded from 12 to 16 teams.

Cameroon were among four additional teams selected by CAF after the qualification phase had already been completed. The four highest-ranked teams eliminated in the final qualifying round were selected to complete the expanded field. Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt were subsequently added to the tournament.

Cameroon made the most of the opportunity.

After reaching the final, they faced Malawi, who were appearing in the WAFCON finals for the first time. Cameroon settled the contest with three first-half goals and held on comfortably to complete a historic campaign.

The result was particularly significant for Cameroon, who had previously been runners-up three times. Their latest appearance finally ended that sequence and delivered the country's first women's continental championship.

1. Nigeria – 10 titles

Official titles: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024

Nigeria have dominated the WAFCON for much of its history.

The Super Falcons won the first two African women's championships in 1991 and 1995 before establishing an extraordinary run of success in the modern WAFCON era.

Nigeria won the 1998 tournament and successfully defended the title in 2000. They added further championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006 before returning to the summit in 2010.

Further victories followed in 2014 and 2016, while the 2018 final against South Africa was decided on penalties after a goalless draw.

Nigeria then waited seven years for their next championship. In the 2024 edition, played in 2025, they came from two goals down to defeat Morocco 3–2 in the final and claim a record-extending 10th official WAFCON title.

Nigeria remain the only team to have won 10 WAFCON titles and are comfortably ahead of every other nation in the competition's official honours list.

Nigeria's official WAFCON titles

- 1998

- 2000

- 2002

- 2004

- 2006

- 2010

- 2014

- 2016

- 2018

- 2024

2. Equatorial Guinea – 2 titles

Titles: 2008, 2012

Equatorial Guinea are the only country other than Nigeria to have won the WAFCON more than once before Cameroon's breakthrough in 2026.

They made history in 2008 by defeating South Africa 2–1 in the final on home soil. They had earlier eliminated defending champions Nigeria in the semi-finals.

Four years later, Equatorial Guinea again lifted the trophy, beating Cameroon 2–0 in the semi-finals before defeating South Africa 4–0 in the final.

Their two championships make Equatorial Guinea the second-most successful nation in WAFCON history.

3. South Africa – 1 title

Title: 2022

South Africa finally ended their long wait for a WAFCON title in 2022.

Banyana Banyana had previously reached the final on several occasions without winning the trophy. Their breakthrough came in Morocco, where they defeated the hosts 2–1 to become African champions for the first time.

South Africa's victory also ended Nigeria's dominance at the tournament.

The Banyana Banyana entered the 2025 edition as defending champions but were eliminated by Nigeria in the semi-finals, losing 2–1 after Michelle Alozie scored a late winner.

4. Cameroon – 1 title

Title: 2026

Cameroon are the newest members of the WAFCON winners' club.

The Indomitable Lionesses defeated Malawi 3–0 in the 2026 final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with all three goals coming before half-time.

Marie Ngah Manga scored twice, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto completed the scoring as Cameroon turned a historic final into a commanding victory.

The triumph was Cameroon's first WAFCON championship after previous final appearances had ended in disappointment.

It also made Cameroon the fourth nation to win the women's continental title.

Complete list of WAFCON champions

Year| Champion

1991| Nigeria

1995| Nigeria

1998| Nigeria

2000| Nigeria

2002| Nigeria

2004| Nigeria

2006| Nigeria

2008| Equatorial Guinea

2010| Nigeria

2012| Equatorial Guinea

2014| Nigeria

2016| Nigeria

2018| Nigeria

2020| Tournament cancelled

2022| South Africa

2024/2025| Nigeria

2026| Cameroon

The 1991 and 1995 championships are part of the competition's history, but CAF's current official WAFCON title tally begins with the 1998 edition. CAF therefore lists Nigeria as 10-time WAFCON champions.

WAFCON winners by country

1. Nigeria – 10 titles

2. Equatorial Guinea – 2 titles

3. South Africa – 1 title

4. Cameroon – 1 title

Nigeria remain the benchmark

Cameroon's historic triumph has added a new name to the WAFCON roll of honour, but Nigeria remain firmly at the top.

The Super Falcons have won 10 of the officially recognised editions of the competition, far more than any other nation. Equatorial Guinea's two victories in 2008 and 2012 and South Africa's breakthrough in 2022 provided rare interruptions to Nigeria's dominance.

Cameroon's 2026 triumph now represents another major shift in the balance of power in African women's football.

The Indomitable Lionesses did not simply win their first continental title; they became the fourth nation to achieve what had previously been accomplished only by Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

With the tournament expanding to 16 teams in 2026, the emergence of a new champion could signal an increasingly competitive era for the WAFCON.