By Teddy Nwanunobi
Cameroon erupted in wild celebration as thousands of jubilant Cameroonians took to the streets of Yaoundé on Monday to welcome the historic triumphant TotalEnergies CAF 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champion, the Indomitable Lionesses, parade their trophy.
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses defeated the tournament’s surprise package, the Scorchers of Malawi, 3-0 in the final on Sunday night, at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium (also known as Stade Moulay Hassan) in Rabat, Morocco.
The players, who secured Cameroon’s first-ever WAFCON title, received a rousing reception at the airport, where hundreds of supporters gathered on the airport tarmac, waving Cameroonian flags, wearing national team jerseys and raising their mobile phones to capture the team’s arrival.
The celebrations quickly spread beyond the airport and into the streets of the capital. Thousands of fans lined the roads as the players’ convoy passed, singing, cheering and waving the national flag in a carnival-like atmosphere.
“At the start of this competition, the girls were calm, and their mindset carried them to victory. They deserved it,” said Aline Mvogo, a 63-year-old housewife, who was among those waiting at the airport.
The Lionesses’ triumph was particularly remarkable because Cameroon had initially failed to qualify for the tournament. Their participation became possible after the competition was expanded from 12 to 16 teams, following a decision in November.
Despite the fatigue of a long journey, the players smiled and waved to supporters as they joined the celebrations that had begun immediately after their victory in Morocco.
Yaoundé remained in a festive mood late into Sunday night, with music, car horns, dancing and national flags dominating several parts of the city as fans celebrated the historic achievement.
“For me, at the beginning of the tournament, I wasn’t really following it. Little by little, I started to watch. I’m proud. I saw a strong and determined team,” said Florence Manga, a 26-year-old communications student.
On Monday, the champions paraded through the capital with the WAFCON trophy proudly on display, receiving a hero’s welcome from thousands of supporters who lined the streets.
Cameroon President, Paul Biya, who is currently in Switzerland, congratulated the team in a Facebook post on Sunday night, describing the players as the “valiant, talented and intrepid Indomitable Lionesses.”
Biya also praised what he called a “well-executed performance” as he hailed the team for bringing the continental title home.
The celebrations marked a defining moment in Cameroonian women’s football, with the Lionesses’ breakthrough WAFCON triumph expected to further raise the profile of the women’s game across the country.