From Poor Coverage To Rise Of Underdogs: Five Major Talking Points From Wafcon 2026

WAFCON 2026 has come and gone, with Cameroon winning the ultimate prize, Malawi finishing as runners-up, while Algeria defeated host nation Morocco to win the bronze medal.

After three weeks of mouthwatering clashes, shocking results, and impressive performances from players and managers, Positive NG Vibes looks at the five major talking points from the tournament.

 

1. Empty Stadiums

This was one of the major talking points throughout the tournament, as many stadiums had large numbers of empty seats during games.

 

Similar to the previous editions hosted in Morocco, only a fraction of the stadiums were occupied by fans who managed to get match tickets.

According to reports, the poor turnout was partly caused by inadequate communication and marketing regarding where and how fans could acquire match tickets.

 

There was also a general lack of interest in matches that did not involve the host nation. Hence, many Moroccans preferred staying at home rather than being in the stands.

For a tournament of this magnitude, the empty stands were a disappointing sight and poor representation of African football.

 

2. The Rise of the Underdogs

Prior to the start of the tournament, very few people would have predicted that debutants Malawi would defeat Nigeria and go all the way to the final.

 

Only a few pundits would have predicted a podium finish for Algeria or a first WAFCON title for Cameroon.

 

Interestingly, we watched all of these unfold right before our eyes.

 

The Super Falcons of Nigeria, 10-time champions, shockingly lost 3-2 to Malawi , who were playing at the tournament for the first time.

 

As if that wasn't shocking enough, a little-known Tanzanian side picked up maximum points against South Africa, one of the pre-tournament favourites.

 

Algeria also surprised many people with their impressive run to the bronze medal.

 

WAFCON 2026 proved that there are no pushovers in African women's football anymore. The so-called minnows are raising the bar, and the gap between the traditional giants and emerging nations is getting smaller.

 

3. The Emergence of Young Stars

 

Major tournaments are known for producing new stars, and WAFCON 2026 didn't disappoint in that regard.

The continent witnessed the emergence of talented players who stole the show and played important roles in their countries' impressive campaigns.

Cameroonian goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was arguably one of the biggest revelations of the tournament following her heroic performances against Nigeria and Morocco.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper produced a remarkable display against the defending champions, making nine saves and denying Nigeria several scoring opportunities.

While we thought that was all, the Benfica Women goalkeeper produced another impressive performance against Morocco in the semi-final, where she saved four penalties to help Cameroon reach the final.

Ngah Manga of Cameroon was another player who announced herself during the tournament.

The 23-year-old Fenerbahçe SK striker scored five goals as the Indomitable Lionesses lifted their first-ever WAFCON title.

Other youngsters who had memorable tournaments include Monique Ngock and N'Sira Safi.

 

4. Poor Coverage

 

This was arguably one of the most disappointing aspects of WAFCON 2026.

African football followers often had to search for streaming platforms before they could watch their favourite teams, with relatively few broadcasters providing comprehensive coverage of the tournament.

 

The situation once again raised questions about the level of attention and investment CAF gives to women's football.

 

For a competition featuring some of the best female footballers on the continent, the tournament deserved much wider and easier access for fans.

 

5. New Champions Emerge

Cameroon's triumph was arguably the biggest story of the tournament, having failed to lift the trophy on three occasions. 

Cameroon finally ended their long wait for continental glory by winning their first-ever WAFCON title.

 

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that they defeated two favourites, Morocco and Nigeria, on their way to the crown. 

 

On the other side, Malawi reached the final on their WAFCON debut, creating one of the most unexpected finals in the history of the competition.

 

The tournament showed that African women's football is entering a new era. While Nigeria is the most successful nation in WAFCON history, the rest of the continent is closing the gap.

 

While there were some negative reports, WAFCON 2026 was an overall success as we saw some top football skills and high technicality from some teams.