Cameroon hold half-time advantage over defending champions Nigeria after Nyadjou free-kick

Cameroon have taken a surprise lead into half-time against defending champions Nigeria in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations meeting, with Myriam Nyadjou’s direct free-kick separating the sides.

The Cameroon forward broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, finding the net from a set-piece taken just outside the Nigeria penalty area. Her effort gave Cameroon a valuable advantage at the interval and put Nigeria under immediate pressure in a match with major consequences.

Despite falling behind, Nigeria have controlled much of the opening 45 minutes. The defending champions have enjoyed 62% possession and have produced eight attempts towards the Cameroon goal, underlining their territorial dominance.

Cameroon have therefore reached the interval ahead without dictating the rhythm of the game. Their success so far has been based on making the most of a decisive opportunity, while Nigeria’s possession and attacking pressure have yet to result in an equaliser.

The second half is expected to bring a dramatic response from Nigeria, who must recover from the setback if they are to avoid a damaging defeat at the threshold of the semi-finals and the Women’s World Cup.

For Cameroon, the challenge is now to protect Nyadjou’s lead for the remainder of the contest. The team will need to show outstanding defensive unity and withstand the sustained pressure that Nigeria demonstrated before the break.

Nyadjou’s perfectly timed intervention has placed Cameroon in a strong position, but the scoreline does not reflect Nigeria’s dominance in possession or their greater volume of attempts. With the defending champions already trailing, the balance of the match could change quickly after the restart.

Nigeria will be seeking to turn their control into goals, while Cameroon will hope their disciplined defensive approach can preserve the advantage until the final whistle.