Bihina Does It Again! Cameroon’s Goalkeeper Saves Four Penalties to Stun Morocco and Reach the WAFCON 2026 Final
First, she broke Nigeria’s heart. Now she has silenced an entire nation.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina produced another extraordinary performance on Wednesday night, saving four penalties to send the Indomitable Lionesses into the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic shootout victory over hosts Morocco.
After 120 tense minutes ended goalless at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, the 22-year-old first denied Fatima Tagnaout from the penalty spot in the 118th minute before saving three more penalties in the shootout as Cameroon triumphed 3-1.
It was another masterclass from the tournament’s standout goalkeeper. Just days after her heroics eliminated Nigeria in the quarter-finals, Bihina once again stood between Cameroon and defeat, frustrating a Moroccan side backed by a passionate home crowd and carrying the Indomitable Lionesses into another continental final.
Sunday’s final now carries an intriguing twist for Nigerian football fans. Both finalists, Cameroon and tournament surprise package Malawi, reached the championship match after eliminating the Super Falcons. Cameroon edged Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals thanks largely to Bihina’s brilliance, while Malawi finished above Nigeria in Group C on the head-to-head tiebreak after both sides ended with six points.
One of those two teams will now lift the WAFCON trophy, a reminder of just how fine the margins have been throughout a tournament that has produced shocks, heartbreak and the rise of new contenders.
You may also read:
- Nigeria vs Cameroon WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Final: Can the Super Falcons Stop the Indomitable Lionesses and Secure Their World Cup Ticket?
- Revenge or Regret? Nigeria vs South Africa World Cup Play-Off Preview: Everything the Super Falcons Must Do on August 13
- The Scorchers Keep Burning: How Malawi Came From Behind to Beat Ghana and Continue the Greatest Debut in WAFCON History
- WAFCON 2026: Every Shock, Every Hero and Every Controversy So Far Before the Semi-Finals
MATCH DETAILS
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | TotalEnergies WAFCON 2026, Semi-Final 1 |
| Date | Wednesday, August 13, 2026 |
| Venue | Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco |
| Kick-off | 21:00 WAT (20:00 GMT) |
| Result | Morocco 0-0 Cameroon (AET). Cameroon win 3-1 on penalties |
| 90 minutes | 0-0. Morocco dominant in possession. Cameroon organised and disciplined defensively |
| Extra time | Still 0-0. Morocco awarded penalty at 118′. Tagnaout steps up. Bihina saves it. Match goes to shootout |
| Shootout (Cameroon) | Marie Ngah: SCORED. Grace Mendoua: MISSED. Rose Bella: SCORED. Myriam Nyadjou: SCORED. Result: 3 scored |
| Shootout (Morocco) | Hanane Ait El Haj: SCORED. Kenza Chapelle: MISSED. Maryame Atiq: MISSED. Sakina Ouzraoui: MISSED. Result: 1 scored |
| Bihina’s shootout record | Saved Tagnaout (118′ ET). Saved Chapelle, Atiq and Ouzraoui in shootout. 4 penalties saved in one night |
| Morocco possession | 64%. 13 shots to Cameroon’s 7. Only 1 big chance created despite dominance |
| Morocco semi-final record | Had WON their previous two WAFCON semi-finals on penalties (vs Nigeria 2022, vs Ghana 2024). Lost this one |
| Cameroon achievement | Fourth WAFCON final appearance in their history. First since 2016 |
| Morocco next match | Third-place play-off vs Algeria. Saturday, August 15. Olympic Stadium, Rabat. 18:00 local |
| WAFCON 2026 Final | Cameroon vs Malawi. Sunday, August 16. 20:00 GMT. Rabat Olympic Stadium |
MATCH EVENTS TIMELINE
| Min | Event | Detail | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-45′ | Morocco dominate | Morocco control possession and territory. Home crowd roaring. Cameroon sitting deep and defending in an organised low block. 64% possession for Morocco but few clear chances created | 0-0 HT |
| 46-90′ | Stalemate continues | Morocco continue pressing. Cameroon continue absorbing. 13 Morocco shots across 90 minutes but only 1 big chance. Bihina commanding her area. Full time goalless | 0-0 FT |
| 91-117′ | Extra time tension | 30 more minutes fail to produce a goal. Both teams tiring. The match heading toward penalties. Morocco pushing desperately for the goal that would send them to their third consecutive final | 0-0 AET |
| 118′ | 🖥 Penalty saved! | Morocco awarded a penalty in extra time. Tagnaout steps up. The chance to send the hosts to the final. BIHINA SAVES IT. The stadium falls silent. Shootout now inevitable | 0-0 |
| PENS | Shootout begins | Cameroon to take the first kick. Both sets of players at the other end. The home crowd trying to will Morocco through. Bihina standing at her line | 0-0 |
| Pen 1 | CMR: Ngah ✅. MAR: Ait El Haj ✅ | Marie Ngah converts for Cameroon. Hanane Ait El Haj scores Morocco’s only successful penalty. Level after the opening kicks | 1-1 |
| Pen 2 | CMR: Mendoua ❌. MAR: Chapelle ❌ | Grace Mendoua misses for Cameroon. Kenza Chapelle misses for Morocco. Bihina saves. Both teams still level. Tension at maximum | 1-1 |
| Pen 3 | CMR: Bella ✅. MAR: Atiq ❌ | Rose Bella scores for Cameroon. Maryame Atiq misses for Morocco. Bihina saves again. Cameroon lead 2-1 in the shootout. Morocco on the brink | 2-1 |
| Pen 4 | CMR: Nyadjou ✅. MAR: Ouzraoui ❌ | Myriam Nyadjou, who scored the goal that eliminated Nigeria, steps up and converts. Ouzraoui misses for Morocco. Bihina saves a third shootout penalty. CAMEROON WIN 3-1 | 3-1 |
| FT | Cameroon win 3-1 on pens | Cameroon are in the WAFCON 2026 final. Morocco are out. Bihina mobbed by her teammates. The home crowd stunned into silence | 3-1 pens |
PENALTY SHOOTOUT SCORECARD
| Kick | Cameroon | CMR | MAR | Morocco | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marie Ngah | ✅ | ✅ | Hanane Ait El Haj | 1-1 |
| 2 | Grace Mendoua | ❌ | ❌ | Kenza Chapelle | 1-1 |
| 3 | Rose Bella | ✅ | ❌ | Maryame Atiq | 2-1 |
| 4 | Myriam Nyadjou | ✅ | ❌ | Sakina Ouzraoui | 3-1 ✅ |
| CAMEROON WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES | |||||
Note: Bihina also saved Tagnaout’s penalty in the 118th minute of extra time before the shootout began. Total: 4 penalties saved in one evening.
MATCH REVIEW
120 Minutes of Brilliant Defence and One Missed Opportunity
Morocco dominated possession for long periods, controlling 64 per cent of the ball and registering 13 shots compared with Cameroon’s seven. However, the hosts struggled to turn their territorial advantage into clear opportunities, managing only one big chance during the match.
This tells the story of 120 minutes in two sentences. Morocco had the ball. Cameroon had the plan. And the plan worked.
Cameroon’s approach was identical to what they deployed against Nigeria in the quarter-final. A disciplined low block. Compact defensive lines. Quick transitions when they won the ball. And Bihina in goal, commanding her area, reading the play, and making every Morocco shot that did get through feel like hitting a wall.
Morocco pressed and pressed. The home crowd pushed them forward. The midfield and attacking players created situations but the final ball, the decisive pass, the killer finish, consistently eluded the Atlas Lionesses.
Then came the 118th minute. The moment Morocco thought they had escaped.
The Tagnaout Penalty That Changed Everything
Morocco were left to rue a late penalty miss by Fatima Tagnaout in extra time. Tagnaout had the chance to send the hosts into the final in the 118th minute after Morocco were awarded a penalty, but she failed to convert, leaving the contest scoreless.
Morocco in the 118th minute. A penalty. The home crowd on their feet. The final within reach. One kick separating the Atlas Lionesses from the WAFCON 2026 final.
Tagnaout stepped up. Bihina read it. Saved it. The stadium went quiet.
That one moment encapsulated everything Bihina has been at this tournament. She had already saved multiple shots across 120 minutes. She had already frustrated every meaningful Morocco attack. And in the moment that mattered most, with the entire weight of the host nation’s expectation on that penalty, she was there again.
Morocco had previously won their last two WAFCON semi-finals on penalties, against Nigeria in 2022 and Ghana in 2024. Their reputation in shootouts was strong. In the shootout that followed, that reputation meant nothing.
The Shootout: Bihina’s Masterclass
Hanane Ait El Haj converted Morocco’s opening penalty, but the hosts then struggled from the spot. Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui all failed to convert their attempts, allowing Cameroon to take control of the shootout.
Three misses. Three saves from Bihina. Combined with the Tagnaout save in extra time, the 22-year-old goalkeeper saved four penalties in a single evening in a WAFCON semi-final on the host nation’s ground.
Marie Ngah and Bella Rose were among Cameroon’s successful takers, while Grace Davila Mendoua missed her attempt. When Myriam Nyadjou, the teenager who scored the goal that eliminated Nigeria, stepped up to take Cameroon’s decisive fourth kick and converted it, the shootout was over. Cameroon won 3-1.
The same Nyadjou who beat Nigeria with a free kick. Now sending Morocco home from a semi-final with a penalty. At 19 years old she is already the most impactful young player at WAFCON 2026.
PLAYER RATINGS
| Player | Team | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michaely Bihina ⭐ | Cameroon GK | 10/10 | Player of the Match. Saved Tagnaout in extra time. Saved Chapelle, Atiq, and Ouzraoui in the shootout. 4 penalties saved. 120 minutes without conceding. The goalkeeper of the tournament, without question |
| Myriam Nyadjou | Cameroon | 8/10 | Scored the decisive fourth penalty to send Cameroon to the final. 19 years old. Already scored the goal that eliminated Nigeria. Her composure in big moments is extraordinary |
| Cameroon defence (collective) | Cameroon | 9/10 | Held Morocco scoreless for 120 minutes. Faced 13 shots and conceded zero from open play. The best defensive performance of the WAFCON 2026 knockout stage |
| Valentine Nguene (CMR Coach) | Cameroon | 9/10 | In charge for less than three months. Beat Nigeria. Beat Morocco on home soil. Reached the WAFCON final. The coaching performance of the tournament |
| Fatima Tagnaout | Morocco | 7/10 | Missed the 118th-minute penalty that would have sent Morocco to the final. That miss was the moment the entire semi-final turned. The most costly miss of WAFCON 2026 |
| Sakina Ouzraoui | Morocco | 6.5/10 | Two tournament goals and a major contributor all tournament. But missed her shootout penalty at the decisive moment. Her tournament ends on a painful note |
| Morocco attack (collective) | Morocco | 7.5/10 | 64% possession. 13 shots. Only 1 big chance in 120 minutes. Dominated the match on paper. Could not convert territorial dominance into goal-scoring opportunities |
TEAM RATINGS
| Category | Cameroon | Morocco | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attacking | 6/10 | 6/10 | Neither team created enough. Morocco had more shots but only 1 big chance. Cameroon were threatening on the counter but could not finish |
| Creativity | 5/10 | 6/10 | Morocco’s possession-based approach produced more creative situations. Cameroon’s counter-attacks were dangerous but ultimately not decisive in 120 minutes |
| Defending | 10/10 | 7/10 | Cameroon conceded zero goals in 120 minutes against the hosts. The perfect defensive display. Morocco’s defence held Cameroon’s attack well but still fell to penalties |
| Tactics | 9/10 | 6/10 | Cameroon’s low block was the perfect tactical response to Morocco’s home advantage and possession game. Morocco could not find a way to break it down in 120 minutes |
| Mentality | 9/10 | 4/10 | Cameroon’s mentality to hold a goalless draw for 120 minutes on home soil was exceptional. Morocco’s shootout mentality collapsed completely with three consecutive misses |
| Composure | 9/10 | 3/10 | Nyadjou scoring the decisive penalty at 19 was composure personified. Morocco missed three straight penalties after converting their first. Composure failed completely |
| Physical Intensity | 8/10 | 8/10 | 120 intense minutes. Both teams physically competitive throughout. Extra time visibly drained both sets of players |
| Set Pieces | 9/10 | 3/10 | Cameroon converted 3 of 4 shootout penalties. Morocco missed 3 of 4 including Tagnaout’s extra time attempt. The most decisive set piece differential of the tournament |
| Coaching Decisions | 9/10 | 6/10 | Nguene’s defensive setup was perfect. His penalty order was correct. Morocco’s coach could not find the attacking variation to break down Cameroon’s low block in 120 minutes |
KAKAKINEWS MATCH INDEX
| Index Category | Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Match Quality | 7/10 | Goalless in 120 minutes but redeemed by the extraordinary shootout drama and Tagnaout’s extra time miss. Not the most exciting match in open play |
| Cameroon Performance | 7/10 | Zero goals conceded in 120 minutes on home soil. Four penalties saved by Bihina. Three converted in the shootout. Perfect execution of a perfect plan |
| Morocco Performance | 7/10 | Dominated possession but created only one big chance in 120 minutes. Three missed penalties after converting the first. Did not deliver when the tournament demanded it most |
| Entertainment Value | 7.5/10 | Goalless but tense. Extra time penalty save. Home crowd drama. Shootout with four Bihina saves. High emotional stakes throughout |
| Tournament Stakes | 10/10 | Host nation eliminated. Defending runners-up out. First time Morocco fails at this stage in three consecutive tournaments. Cameroon’s fourth final |
| Coaching Battle | 9/10 | Nguene’s plan was immaculate. Held Morocco for 120 minutes with a side that was outclassed in possession. The tactical masterclass of WAFCON 2026 |
| KakakiNews Overall Match Index | 7.5/10 | The goalless 120 minutes was forgettable. The Tagnaout miss and the four Bihina saves in the shootout are unforgettable. Cameroon is in the final, and Bihina is the goalkeeper of the tournament. |
Can Malawi beat Cameroon in the final and complete the greatest upset in WAFCON history? And does Bihina concern you going into Sunday? Drop your prediction for the final in the comments now.
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EDITORIAL CREDIT
This match review was prepared by the KakakiNews Sports Editorial Team using verified reporting from Punch Nigeria, PM News Nigeria, Morocco World News, CAFOnline, Graphic Online Ghana, DailySports and CameroonOnline. Video highlights from Full Time Review. All tactical analysis, player ratings, match verdicts and editorial commentary are original KakakiNews content.
