Thousands of Cameroon fans gather in Yaounde to celebrate maiden WAFCON title

[p]The Cameroonian women were greeted by hundreds of supporters on the tarmac Monday upon their return from Morocco, where they beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malawi/A3EAueis/"]Malawi[/a] 3–0 in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cameroon-GjLfzCAQ/malawi-A3EAueis/?mid=4232NPGF"]Sunday's final[/a] to claim the 2026 WAFCON trophy.[/p][p]The footballers were swept up in the sea of Cameroonian flags, jerseys and phones held high to film their arrival.[/p][p]The electrifying atmosphere spilt onto the streets of the capital, where thousands of people lined up on the sidewalks to cheer the players as they passed.[/p][p][b]"At the start of this competition, the girls were calm, and their mindset carried them to victory. They deserved it," [/b]said Aline Mvogo, a 63-year-old housewife who was at the airport.[/p][embed guid="e46a46d3-8721-410f-87f1-78e59b58da80" url="https://x.com/CAFwomen/status/2089093907925573772" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cameroon/GjLfzCAQ/"]Cameroon's[/a] Indomitable Lionesses claimed the title unexpectedly - they hadn't even qualified for the tournament until a decision taken in November to expand it from 12 to 16 teams.[/p][p]Although visibly tired, the players beamed at the elated crowds of supporters who sought to extend the celebrations that began the day before.[/p][p]On Sunday evening, the festivities continued late into the night in several districts of Yaounde.[/p][p]Music, car horns and Cameroonian flags resounded throughout the city and accompanied the outpourings of joy in the streets of the capital after the final whistle.[/p][p][b]"At the beginning of the tournament, I wasn't really following it. Little by little, I started to watch. I'm proud; I saw a strong and determined team,"[/b] said Florence Manga, a 26-year-old communications student.[/p][p]The players paraded through the streets of the capital on Monday, proudly displaying their first Cup, amid the cheers of the thousands of people lining the roads.[/p][p]Cameroonian President Paul Biya, 93, currently in Switzerland, congratulated the "valiant, talented and intrepid Indomitable Lionesses" in a post on Facebook late Sunday, hailing the trophy won at the end of a "well-executed performance".[/p][infobox id="89d8dac9-56aa-4b5e-897b-9c5da03c43e1" /]