Cameroon is celebrating a new star after Michaely Bihina’s heroics at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Fans are even calling for a statue of the goalkeeper, whose brilliance has propelled the Indomitable Lionesses to their first final since 2016.
The 22-year-old has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, earning player-of-the-match honors against Nigeria in the quarter-finals and hosts Morocco in the semi-finals.
After saving four penalties—one in extra time and three in the shootout—against Morocco on Wednesday, she told the BBC World Service she was overjoyed to reach a first final with her generation and grateful for the supporters’ backing.
Bihina made nine saves against Nigeria, a record for a single match at the finals, as Cameroon dethroned the defending champions and sealed qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She called it a great day for Cameroonian football and told CAF that beating Nigeria and reaching the World Cup at her first WAFCON was historic. She added that the team set out to rewrite their national team’s story against Nigeria.
Cameroon, beaten in three previous WAFCON finals—all by Nigeria (2004, 2014, 2016)—will now face debutants Malawi for the title on Sunday at 19:00 GMT.
Bihina has anchored the campaign with three clean sheets in five matches.