Yaounde: Naomi Eto leads Lionesses to celebrate WAFCON triumph in gala match.

The gala match was organised by Eto, who scored in the 2026 WAFCON final against Malawi in Rabat. The prodigiously talented forward said the gala match was to recognise Cameroon’s recent WAFCON title, and to also give fans the opportunity to celebrate with the victorious squad. 

Thousands of football lovers from the neighbourhood and other vicinities stormed the football field at GBHS Etoug-Ebe to watch the team against a men’s selection named Canada family. 

The kick-off of the entertaining encounter was given by the Mayor of Yaounde VI, Jacques Yoki Onana, who praised the Indomitable Lionesses for making the country proud.

It was a lively football encounter between the two teams as they demonstrated their skills. The population was entertained and had the chance to catch a glimpse of the players they only got to watch on their screens during the WAFCON tournament in Morocco. 

The Indomitable Lionesses team, who fielded players like Bella Rose, Ngah Manga, Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck, put up an impressive display and edged their rivals 2-1. Eto made her presence very visible in the match by scoring a goal. 

Speaking at the end of the gala match, Eto mentioned that the event was to keep the WAFCON victory spirit alive and to encourage the next generation of girls playing football in Cameroon. 

The gala match ended with joyous scenes of fans embracing and taking pictures with players of the women’s national team. Some fans also had the chance to receive gifts from their favorite players. 

Cameroon’s women’s national team was crowned WAFCON champions for the first time in their history on August 16. 

The Indomitable Lionesses had not originally qualified for the tournament before being added following the expansion of the competition to 16 teams by the Confederation of African Football, CAF. 

The victory made Cameroon the fourth different nation to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, joining record 10-time winners Nigeria, two-time champions Equatorial Guinea and 2022 winners South Africa.

It also ended a painful sequence of three previous final defeats for the Indomitable Lionesses, who had lost to Nigeria in the deciding match in 2004, 2014 and 2016.

Their WAFCON success also means they qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team will be making their third appearance after 2015 and 2019. 

The team was received by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya at the Unity Palace. Each player and member of the technical team received the insignia of Knight of the Order of Valour in recognition of her exemplary service to the nation. 

By Naomi Nkfunchang, Journalism student on internship    

 This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3891 of Thursday August 27, 2026