Michaely Bihina was named Player of the Match.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina delivered a standout performance as the Indomitable Lionesses stunned defending champions Nigeria 1-0 on Sunday to reach the semifinals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and secure qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The decisive moment came from 19-year-old Myriam Nyadjou, whose powerful free kick flew into the top-left corner, finding the only area left exposed by Nigeria’s defensive wall.
Nigeria dominated large spells of the match and pushed relentlessly for an equaliser after the break, but Bihina repeatedly denied the Super Falcons with a series of crucial saves.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper produced nine saves in total, including a spectacular one-handed stop to keep out a header from Uchenna Kanu, helping Cameroon end a long winless run against their regional rivals.
Player of the Match
Her display earned her the Player of the Match award and sparked celebrations among her teammates, who carried her on their shoulders after the final whistle.
Cameroon had played Nigeria 13 times before at the Women's Africa Cup and only won once before Sunday's match in Casablanca.
“It’s a feeling of pride, our qualification that we wanted so much. We managed to break the curse against Nigeria, we turned things around. It’s the work of the whole team, not just mine,” Bihina told CAF media after the match.
The victory sends Cameroon into a record-extending 11th WAFCON semifinal and secures the country's third appearance at the Women’s World Cup after qualifying for the 2015 and 2019 editions.
Born on December 28, 2003, Kyria Inès Michaely Bihina made her top-flight debut with Canon of Yaoundé before joining Nkoldongo. At just 15 years old, she won a silver medal at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, marking the beginning of a promising career that has now placed her among the continent’s standout goalkeepers.
Cameroon will now face hosts Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday as they continue their quest for a first continental title.
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