Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses made history on Sunday by winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat.

The victory ended Cameroon’s long wait for a continental title after the team had finished runners-up three times, in 2004, 2014 and 2016.

Cameroon settled the final with a dominant first-half performance. Marie Gisèle Divine Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Naomi Leslie Ndjoah Eto doubled the lead nine minutes later.

Ngah Manga struck again in first-half stoppage time to complete her brace and give Cameroon a 3-0 advantage before the break.

Malawi, appearing in its first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final, struggled to respond after the three-goal setback. Cameroon controlled the second half to secure a historic victory and lift the trophy without conceding a goal in the final.

The triumph is a landmark moment for Cameroonian women’s football. The Lionesses had previously come close to winning the continental championship but were beaten in all three of their previous finals.

This time, they overcame both the reigning champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals and tournament hosts Morocco in the semi-finals, where Cameroon advanced on penalties after a goalless draw.

For Malawi, the defeat ends an extraordinary debut campaign. The Scorchers reached the final in their first appearance at the tournament, becoming one of the surprise stories of the competition.

Cameroon’s 3-0 victory places the Indomitable Lionesses among the African teams to have won the women’s continental crown and gives the country its first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy.