Cameroon top Group D, set up Nigeria quarter-final clash
Cameroon secured top spot in Group D of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after playing out a 1-1 draw with debutants Cape Verde in their final group-stage fixture in Casablanca on Thursday, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.
The result saw the Indomitable Lionesses finish the group stage unbeaten with two wins and a draw, collecting seven points to claim first place and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash against defending champions Nigeria on Saturday.
Cape Verde started brightly and created the first clear opportunity in the 19th minute when Ivania Moreira found space inside the penalty area, but her effort lacked the power to trouble the Cameroon goalkeeper.
Cameroon punished the missed opportunity nine minutes later. Naomi Ndjoah Eto produced another impressive run down the right before picking out Grace Mendoua, who fired a first-time effort into the top corner to give the Lionesses the lead.
Cape Verde responded strongly after the interval and drew level in the 50th minute. Moreira made amends for her earlier miss by calmly finishing to make it 1-1.
Cameroon thought they had restored their lead when substitute Michaela-Batya Abam bundled the ball into the net following a goalmouth scramble, but the effort was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up.
Both teams continued to search for a winner, with Ndjoah Eto coming close after leading a swift counterattack, only for her low effort to be brilliantly stopped.
Cape Verde nearly snatched a historic victory late on when Alivia Kelly broke through on goal, but the Cameroon goalkeeper produced an excellent save to preserve the draw.
The result confirmed Cameroon as Group D winners and kept their unbeaten record intact, while Cape Verde bowed out of their debut WAFCON campaign with their first-ever point in the competition.
Cameroon will now turn their attention to Saturday’s quarter-final against Nigeria, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
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