Nigeria’s hopes of defending their WAFCON crown came crashing down in Casablanca after Cameroon stunned the Super Falcons 1-0 in the quarter-finals, with goalkeeper Michaely Bihina producing a sensational performance to keep the 10-time African champions at bay.
The Super Falcons dominated large periods of the contest and created enough chances to turn the game around, but they repeatedly found Bihina in their way as the 22-year-old produced nine saves to preserve Cameroon’s narrow advantage.
Nigeria’s elimination marked one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, particularly given their dominance over Cameroon in recent years. The defeat also ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals and automatically qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup through a top-four finish.
Cameroon made the perfect start when Myriam Nyadjou opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a superb direct free-kick that caught Chiamaka Nnadozie off guard.
The goal forced Nigeria to chase the game, and the Super Falcons responded by increasing the pressure on the Cameroonian defence.
However, every route towards an equaliser seemed to lead back to Bihina.
The goalkeeper made an important save as early as the second minute to deny Ajibade before producing a crucial double stop shortly before half-time. She remained equally impressive after the break, denying Kanu, Ucheibe and Okoronkwo as Nigeria continued to push forward.
The Super Falcons had chances, but their finishing and Bihina’s brilliance combined to keep them scoreless.
By the final whistle, Nigeria had been unable to find a way past the Cameroonian goalkeeper, who finished the game with nine saves, three clear chances denied and 2.93 expected goals prevented.
Her performance earned her a remarkable 9.6 Flashscore rating and the Player of the Match award.
For Nigeria, it was a frustrating end to a tournament in which expectations had once again been high.
The Super Falcons entered the competition as one of Africa’s strongest teams and carried the weight of their extraordinary continental history. With 10 African titles, Nigeria had been accustomed to going deep into major tournaments and competing for trophies.
Instead, their campaign ended at the quarter-final stage.
The defeat was particularly painful because Cameroon had not beaten Nigeria in an official competitive fixture for 13 years. The Indomitable Lionesses finally broke that run when they needed it most.
While Nigeria searched desperately for an equaliser, Cameroon defended deeper and relied increasingly on Bihina to protect their lead.
The goalkeeper responded with authority.
She claimed crosses, punched dangerous balls away and remained composed under sustained pressure, helping Cameroon survive an increasingly desperate Nigerian attack.
After the final whistle, Cameroon’s players rushed towards Bihina before carrying her around the pitch in celebration.
The goalkeeper broke down in tears as she celebrated what was arguably the biggest victory of her young career.
“It’s a feeling of pride, our qualification that we wanted so much. We managed to break the curse against Nigeria, we turned things around. It’s the work of the whole team, not just mine,” Bihina told CAF.
She also thanked the Moroccan supporters for their support during the tournament.
“We are very grateful for Morocco’s support and the warm welcome we received,” she added.
Bihina’s performance immediately became one of the major talking points in Cameroon, with supporters praising her composure, command of the penalty area and ability to read the game.
For Nigeria, however, the focus will now turn to what went wrong.
The Super Falcons created opportunities but could not convert them, while Cameroon showed greater efficiency when their decisive moment arrived.
The defeat also meant Nigeria missed out on a place in the WAFCON semi-finals and the automatic qualification that came with reaching the final four.
For a nation accustomed to dominating women’s football in Africa, crashing out at the quarter-final stage will be a major disappointment.
Cameroon, meanwhile, will continue their historic campaign with renewed belief after eliminating the tournament favourites.
And while the Super Falcons leave Casablanca empty-handed, Bihina leaves the pitch having established herself as the goalkeeper who stopped Nigeria when it mattered most.