The 22-Year-Old Goalkeeper Who Put Cameroon Back in a Wafcon Final
A 22-year-old goalkeeper playing her first major tournament has dragged Cameroon into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final for the first time in a decade — and some back home want a statue built in her honour.
Michaely Bihina saved four penalties across Cameroon's semi-final against hosts Morocco: one from Fatima Tagnaout in extra time, then three more in the shootout from Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq and Sakina Diki Ouzraoui. After 120 goalless minutes in Rabat, Cameroon won the shootout 3-1 to reach the Wafcon final (BBC Sport; ESPN Africa).
That was not even her most eye-catching performance. In the quarter-final, Bihina made nine saves against Nigeria — the most recorded in a single match at a Wafcon finals tournament — and was named player of the match as Cameroon knocked out the defending champions (BBC Sport). That win carried a second prize: qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was player of the match again in the semi-final, and has kept three clean sheets in five games.
Cameroon had not reached a Wafcon final since 2016. Their previous three final appearances, in 2004, 2014 and 2016, all ended in defeat by Nigeria. This time the opponent will be different: tournament debutants Malawi, who meet Cameroon in Sunday's final in Rabat (CAF).
Morocco, playing on home soil, pushed hard but could not find a goal across two hours of football. Their late penalty in extra time, had Tagnaout converted, would likely have settled the tie. Instead, Cameroon's goalkeeper stood in the way (CAF). Morocco now face Algeria in the third-place play-off (CAF).
For a sense of what Bihina means to this Cameroon side, consider the chain: a record nine saves to eliminate Nigeria, a penalty saved in extra time to keep the semi-final alive, then three more in the shootout to finish the job. She is 22, new to the tournament, and already the player Cameroon's fans are talking about — with some calling for a statue to commemorate what she has done (BBC Sport).
Malawi, meanwhile, have never been here before. Their path to the final makes them the story of the tournament regardless of Sunday's result. Cameroon bring the weight of three lost finals and a decade of waiting. The goalkeeper who got them back will be hard to miss.
