Cameroon Make History with Victory Over Switzerland at Women’s World Cup
By BBC Sport Africa
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have made history by reaching the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. A hard-fought 2-1 win over Switzerland in their final Group C match in Canada secured their passage into the round of 16 and marked a milestone moment for African women’s football.
Having gone behind early in the match, Cameroon responded with determination and composure, showcasing their tactical maturity and attacking flair. The result not only earned them qualification but also confirmed their emergence as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Coach Enow Ngachu praised his team’s resilience and hailed the victory as a major step forward for the development of women’s football in Cameroon and across the continent.
“We are very happy with this victory, which opens the doors to the next round,” Ngachu said after the match.
“Like against Japan, we lost focus in the first half, but we learn from every match. This performance bodes well for the future of women’s football in Cameroon. Today, we were not just defending the colours of our country, but of all Africa.”
Switzerland, who had impressed earlier in the group stage, failed to capitalise on their early dominance. Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg expressed her disappointment at her team’s inability to convert chances and handle the pressure after Cameroon took the lead.
“We started well and did a lot of good things in the opening minutes, but we wasted many chances,” Voss-Tecklenburg admitted.
“When Cameroon took the lead, I sensed a certain nervousness among us. We weren’t aggressive enough in attack. To beat Cameroon, we needed goals—and we didn’t get them. They deserved the win.”
Cameroon’s advancement is being celebrated not only back home but across the African football community, as they become only the second African team after Nigeria to reach the knockout phase of a Women’s World Cup. The Lionesses now look ahead to the next round with belief and purpose, inspired by a performance that has already made history.
