Cape Verde secured a memorable 1–1 draw against Cameroon in their final Group D match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), bringing their historic debut campaign to a close on a positive note.
Cameroon had already secured top spot in the group before the match, but Cape Verde were determined to finish their first-ever WAFCON appearance with a result.
Cameroon Take the Lead
The Indomitable Lionesses opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Grâce Davila Mendoua.
Mendoua’s goal gave Cameroon a 1–0 advantage and appeared to put the Group D winners on course for another victory.
Cape Verde Fight Back
Cape Verde refused to surrender and continued searching for an equaliser.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 50th minute, when Ivania Tavares Moreira found the back of the net to bring the debutants level at 1–1.
The goal sparked celebrations from the Cape Verde players, who had already made history by reaching the WAFCON for the first time.
Cameroon Hold On
Both teams pushed for a winning goal during the remainder of the match, but neither could find the decisive breakthrough.
Cameroon eventually settled for a point, finishing the group stage unbeaten and securing top spot in Group D. The draw also gave Cape Verde a memorable result to close out their maiden appearance at the tournament.
Goalscorers
- 28′ – Grâce Davila Mendoua (Cameroon)
- 50′ – Ivania Tavares Moreira (Cape Verde)
A Proud Moment for Cape Verde
Although Cape Verde will not progress to the knockout stage, their WAFCON debut has been an important milestone for women’s football in the country.
The team showed courage throughout the tournament and demonstrated that they can compete against some of Africa’s more established women’s football nations.
Cameroon Finish Top
For Cameroon, the draw completes a strong group-stage campaign.
The Indomitable Lionesses finish as Group D winners and will now prepare for the quarter-finals, where they will face Nigeria.
Final Thoughts
The 1–1 draw between Cape Verde and Cameroon was a fitting conclusion to Cape Verde’s historic WAFCON debut.
Cameroon took the lead through Grâce Davila Mendoua, but Ivania Tavares Moreira responded for Cape Verde shortly after halftime to earn her country a valuable draw.
For Cameroon, the result maintains their unbeaten record and confirms their position as Group D winners. For Cape Verde, it provides a memorable final chapter to their first appearance on Africa’s biggest women’s football stage.
