Goalkeeper of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the ongoing 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), Michaely Bihina, may become the first player in history to win both the Most Valuable Player award and the Best Goalkeeper award in the same tournament.

After denying the Super Falcons a place in the semifinals last Sunday, Bihina, on Wednesday night, single-handedly gave Cameroon the final ticket by saving three penalty shots in their match against hosts Morocco.

Cameroon won the game 3-1 on penalties and will face the tournament’s debutant, Malawi, in this weekend’s final. Malawi had defeated another North African team, Algeria, 3-1 in their semifinal game also on Wednesday.

Her fantastic performance against Morocco gave Bihina her second Woman of the Match award in the tournament. She was voted Woman of the Match in the quarterfinal against the Super Falcons, after stopping all shots fired by the Nigerians last Sunday.

Unless a player in the Malawian team comes up with a fantastic display in the final, the Cameroonian, Bihina, who plays for Benfica, is the favourite to win both the Best Player of the tournament and Best Goalkeeper award.

This is the fourth time Cameroon will reach the AWCON final.

On three previous occasions, Cameroon came close to lifting the title, but they walked away without the trophy.

In 2004, they lost 0–5 to the Super Falcons in Johannesburg, South Africa, and in 2014, the Indomitable Lionesses also lost 0–2 to the Super Falcons in Windhoek, Namibia.

Again, in 2016, the Super Falcons, led by Coach Florence Omagbemi, defeated the Indomitable Lionesses, lifting the title in front of their home fans, including President Paul Biya, in Yaounde. Desire Oparanozie scored the lone goal for Nigeria in the 83rd minute.

Now, in 2026, the Indomitable Lionesses face Malawi in the final.

Many followers of women’s football on the continent are of the view that with the Super Falcons out of the final this time, the Indomitable Lionesses stand a chance of carrying the day in Morocco. Just 90 minutes stand between Cameroon and history.

But some football analysts are tipping debutant Malawi for the title.

Malawi started the problem for the Super Falcons in this tournament, winning 3-2 in their opening match before Cameroon ended Nigeria’s campaign with a 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinal.

No doubt, Malawi, led by the Chawinga sisters, are the revelation of the 2026 AWCON. It is their first time in the competition, and they are in the final.