Women's AFCON: Valentine Nguele makes history

16.08.26 FT Africa Women Cup of Nations

Cameroon W

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Malawi W

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Just two months ago, Valentine Nguele inherited a squad searching for its identity. On Sunday, August 16, at the Stade Moulay Hassan in Rabat, she transformed them into African champions. The 4-0 triumph over Malawi secured Cameroon's very first Women's AFCON crown and placed Nguele in an elite circle—one of only five female coaches to lift the trophy.

A mark made from the very first camp

Valentine Nguele banked on discipline and trust, bringing together the veterans and the younger players. The chemistry was instantly visible on the pitch. Cameroon topped Group D without a single defeat.

Then came a string of high-stakes clashes. Against Nigeria in the quarterfinals, Bihina pulled off save after save, while Nyadjou struck home from a free kick. Facing host nation Morocco, the 22-year-old goalkeeper stopped four penalties. In the final, the game plan was crystal clear: shut down the Chawinga sisters, keep possession, strike at the right moment. Mission accomplished. In six matches, the defense conceded just twice.

A career built step by step

An international player from 2000 to 2010, Nguele represented Cameroon at the 2006 AFCON and won bronze at the 2003 African Games. After retiring, she never left the pitch, earning her coaching badges: C license in 2011, B in 2015, A in 2023. With Louves Minproff, she won the Cameroonian women's national league eight times and picked up six Cups, before returning to the Ebolowa bench in 2024 and 2026.

Twenty-nine years after her debut, the woman who once dreamed as a player now enters the history books as a coach. She becomes the fifth woman to win the Women's AFCON, following in the footsteps of Clémentine Touré with Equatorial Guinea in 2008, Eucharia Uche in 2010, Florence Omagbemi in 2016, and Desiree Ellis in 2022.

Nafongo TRAORE |

News Editorfr, ar, en

Nafongon Moussa TRAORE, Burkinabè de 25 ans, est passionné de football, est rédacteur pour Foot Africa et commentateur pour BurkiFoot.

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