Cameroon Keeper Saves 4 Penalties, Sends Team to Final

A 22-year-old goalkeeper just delivered one of the most clutch performances in African women's football history, and now her team is headed to the final.

Mickaely Bihina saved four penalties for Cameroon in their semifinal match against Morocco on Wednesday night. Her heroics sent the Indomitable Lionesses to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final in the most dramatic way possible.

The game remained scoreless through 90 minutes and extra time. Then Morocco earned a penalty kick in the 118th minute, just two minutes from the shootout, with a chance to win it all in front of their home fans at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Bihina dove left and pushed away Fatima Tagnaout's attempt. The match went to penalties, and the young keeper was just getting started.

In the shootout, she brilliantly denied three more Moroccan players: Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq, and Sakina Ouzraoui. Teenage defender Maryam Nyadjou sealed the 3-1 shootout victory, leaving the stadium in stunned silence.

Cameroon will face Malawi in Sunday's final. The southern African team pulled off their own upset earlier Wednesday, beating Algeria 3-1.

The Bright Side

Cameroon's journey to this final is even more remarkable than it appears. The team didn't even qualify through the normal route but earned their spot based on world rankings after organizers expanded the tournament to 16 teams midway through qualifying.

Now they're two wins away from their first continental title. Bihina had already made waves with nine saves in the quarterfinal upset against 10-time champions Nigeria, showing this wasn't a one-time performance.

For Morocco, the loss stings. The country has invested heavily in women's football and hired Spain's Women's World Cup winning coach Jorge Vilda to chase their first African title. They've now finished as runners-up three times, including throwing away a 2-0 halftime lead in last year's final against Nigeria.

But for Cameroon, Sunday brings a chance to write a new chapter. Coach Valentine Nguele took charge just two months ago in June, and she's already leading her team to heights they haven't reached in a decade.

No matter who wins Sunday's final, a new name will be engraved on the trophy.