WAFCON 2026: Cameroon line up quarter-final clash with Nigeria after Cape Verde draw

Cameroon secured top spot in Group D at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde in their final group match on Thursday, setting up a quarter-final showdown with defending champions Nigeria.

The Indomitable Lionesses finished the group stage unbeaten with seven points from three matches, while tournament debutants Cape Verde celebrated a historic first point at the competition despite exiting the tournament.

Grace Mendoua gave Cameroon the lead in the first half before Ivania Moreira equalised shortly after the break in Casablanca.

Mendoua strike puts Cameroon ahead

Cape Verde created the first clear opportunity of the match in the 19th minute when Moreira found space inside the penalty area, but her effort failed to trouble the Cameroon goalkeeper.

The miss proved costly nine minutes later as Cameroon took the lead through Mendoua.

Naomi Ndjoah Eto, one of Cameroon’s standout performers, surged down the wing before picking out Mendoua, who unleashed a first-time strike into the top corner to put the Indomitable Lionesses in front.

Cape Verde fight back

Cape Verde responded strongly after the interval and drew level five minutes into the second half.

Moreira made amends for her earlier miss, finishing calmly to score the island nation’s first goal of the tournament and restore parity.

Cameroon thought they had regained the lead moments later when substitute Michaela-Batya Abam found the net following a goalmouth scramble, but a VAR review ruled out the effort for a foul in the build-up.

Quarter-final showdown awaits

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Ndjoah Eto going close after a swift counterattack before Cape Verde nearly snatched victory through Alivia Kelly, whose powerful strike was well saved.

The draw was enough to secure Cameroon’s place at the top of Group D, ahead of Ghana, who also advanced to the quarter-finals.

The Indomitable Lionesses will now face reigning champions Nigeria in one of the standout fixtures of the last eight, while Cape Verde leave the tournament with a memorable first point from their debut appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.