Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina will come face to face with Malawi’s prolific Chawinga sisters when the Indomitable Lionesses and the Scorchers meet in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday.

The eagerly anticipated final pits Malawi’s free-scoring attack against a Cameroon defence that has conceded just twice in five matches, setting up a fascinating battle between two contrasting styles.

Malawi have been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, scoring 12 goals on their way to their first WAFCON final. Much of their attacking threat has come from sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, who have scored four and five goals respectively.

Temwa, who plays for Kansas City Current, and elder sister Tabitha of Lyon have transformed Malawi from outsiders into genuine title contenders after a remarkable run that has included victories over Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria.

The Scorchers defeated Nigeria 3-2 before recording 3-1 victories over Egypt and Algeria, with the Chawingas repeatedly proving decisive in the final third.

Standing between Malawi and a historic first continental title is Cameroon’s Bihina, who has emerged as one of the stars of the tournament.

The 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper produced a remarkable performance in the semi-final against hosts Morocco, saving a penalty during extra time before stopping three more spot-kicks in the shoot-out to send Cameroon through.

Bihina has also been studying Malawi’s attacking threats and admits the Chawinga sisters present a special challenge.

“The Chawinga sisters are special. I have been studying how they operate and, hopefully, it will assist me in the final,” Bihina said.

She added that Cameroon had raised their level during the knockout stages after eliminating Nigeria and Morocco.

“The stronger the opposition, the better we play,” she said.

Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, are 82 places below Cameroon and entered the competition with little expectation of reaching the final. Victory would therefore rank among the biggest shocks in WAFCON history.

Temwa Chawinga, however, insists the achievement belongs to the entire squad rather than just her and her sister.

“Many of the headlines reflect the goals Tabitha and I have scored, but we are just part of a very talented group of footballers,” she said.

Tabitha echoed that sentiment, stressing that their success depends on the collective effort of the team.

Malawi will, however, be without midfielder Rose Kadzere, who is suspended after being sent off in the semi-final against Algeria.

Beyond continental glory, the finalists are also competing for a record $2 million first prize, while the runners-up will receive $750,000.

The final promises to be a compelling contest between Malawi’s explosive attack and Cameroon’s defensive resilience, with Bihina’s battle against the Chawinga sisters likely to prove decisive.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate the country’s recent poor performances in international competitions, with particular focus on the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The decision follows Nigeria’s disappointing campaign at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where the Super Falcons, 10-time champions and defending title holders, were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s hopes of securing a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup were further dashed after the Falcons suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the playoff for a place in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

The defeat means the Super Falcons will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1991, ending their record of appearing at every edition of the competition.

Announcing the committee on its X handle, the NFF said it would investigate the setbacks suffered by Nigeria’s national teams and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

According to the federation, the committee will “investigate the setbacks and make recommendations” on the way forward for Nigerian football.

The NFF said the move was necessary to “identify the factors responsible for the recent poor performances” and develop appropriate recommendations to improve the fortunes of the national teams.

Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON, will chair the committee, while former Super Eagles coach Ladan Bosso, former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie, ex-Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju and Dr Alex Mana will serve as members.

The committee is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup, as well as broader challenges affecting Nigeria’s performances in international competitions.

Its recommendations are expected to provide a roadmap for addressing the identified shortcomings and restoring Nigeria’s competitiveness on the international stage.

Arsenal are eager to get their hands on the first trophy of the ⁠new season when they face Manchester City in this weekend’s Community Shield, with manager Mikel Arteta saying on Friday ‌that his squad have returned refreshed and highly motivated.

Sunday’s traditional curtain-raiser will see Premier ‌League champions Arsenal take on FA Cup winners City ‌in Cardiff.

Arsenal, who lost last season’s Champions League final to Paris ‌Saint-Germain on penalties, aim to begin the campaign on ‌a positive note after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

“It (the Community Shield) is a trophy, one that we can have because ‌we earned it last year from winning the ⁠Premier League,” Arteta told reporters.


“You ‌can tell how hungry the players are, which is a good sign. ​I love the way the players have come back, most of them earlier than expected. Really fit, we’ve ​done all the testing. They all seem in great condition.

“The moment they start to look at each other, I said: look ⁠at the squad that ​we have and what we’re building. There’s a lot of excitement.

“The best version of Arsenal has to be on Sunday. That’s the intention. The best performance, the best way to start the ‌season by lifting the first trophy. That’s the way we’ve prepared for the season. On day one, be at our maximum level.”