Infantino applauds Morocco and CAF after historic Cameroon triumph

Gianni Infantino has praised the organisation and impact of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, thanking the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Morocco after Cameroon won the tournament for the first time.

The FIFA president attended the final in Rabat, where Cameroon completed a landmark run to claim the continental title. In comments published on FIFA’s official website, Infantino said the competition had been “a huge success”.

“Congratulations to CAF, Morocco and all the teams and wonderful fans,” he added.

Infantino also paid tribute to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and the people of Morocco for staging the tournament.

“I would like to extend my great thanks to the Confederation of African Football under the leadership of Patrice Motsepe, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation under the leadership of Fouzi Lekjaa, and all the people of Morocco for organising this outstanding tournament, which put women’s football in the spotlight,” said Infantino.

The 2026 edition was the first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to feature 16 teams, expanding the competition and providing a wider platform for women’s football across the continent.

Infantino congratulated Cameroon on securing their first title in the history of the competition, saying: “Congratulations to Cameroon on winning the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and bringing joy to the hearts of their people with this first achievement.”

Cameroon’s victory was one of the defining moments of a tournament that also delivered a major breakthrough for Malawi. They reached the final on their first appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, despite being ranked 151st in the world.

Infantino highlighted the significance of Malawi’s unexpected run, saying the players “made not only their country dream, but also everyone who loves football”.

Their progress through the tournament was described as an exceptional achievement, with Malawi advancing all the way to the final before finishing as runners-up.

The tournament also served as the qualifying competition for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi and Morocco secured direct qualification for the finals, while South Africa and Ghana advanced to the preliminary stage of the play-off tournament.

Infantino’s comments came after the final had brought the competition to a close in Morocco, with Cameroon celebrating a first African title and Malawi earning recognition for their performance on their debut. The FIFA president’s praise covered both the hosts’ organisation and the wider contribution made by the tournament to the development and visibility of women’s football.