Cabo Verde search for first WAFCON win, Cameroon eye perfect record

When Silvéria Nédio was appointed the first ever head coach of Cabo Verde in 2018 as the island nation commenced their Women’s Football intentional building journey, qualifying for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was always the objective.

That is why when the Lady Blue Sharks eventually donned the famous blue in Casablanca at the ongoing WAFCON 2026, it was an emotional chapter of an eight-year-long dream to come up against the best teams in Africa.

And despite losing 2-0 to Ghana in their Group D opener followed by a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Mali, Cabo Verde come into their last match at the tournament in high spirits.

Against Cameroon, they face a hungry side yearning for a perfect record. The Indomitable Lionesses have a unique opportunity to finish the group stages with maximum points having won their opening two matches; 2-1 over Mali and 1-0 against Ghana.

Last chance for glory

This is it. Cabo Verde go into Thursday’s fixture against Cameroon with one objective – to win. To win for the people of Cabo Verde – the smallest nation to qualify for the WAFCON. A nation of a little over half a million people. This record was previously held by Réunion Islands who competed in the WAFCON 2000 in South Africa.

For Cabo Verde head coach Silvéria Nédio, this is the perfect way to say goodbye to a competition that has seen so many Cabo Verdians across the world learn about her team, create core memories and also inspired an entire generation.

“We hope to leave this tournament with our heads held up high and very proud. This is ourfirst participation and of course, we have achieved more experience than we had before. The results were not what we wanted but we were here to learn,” she explains.

“We are going to be very strong. We are going to face a very strong team but our objective remains the same. Cabo verde is here to make history. Our objective is to win [against Cameroon].”

Cabo Verde defender Romina do Rosario, who features for Juve Force in Portugal adds that, “We know that this will be a tough game but we shall do our best to register our first points at the tournament. We are really grateful to be here, representing our nation.”

This will be the first time that Cabo Verde are facing a team from outside West Africa at the WAFCON. The island nation will be looking to replicate or even better their performanceagainst Ghana when they attempted 10 shots, their most in a WAFCON match.

A redemption rooted in perfection

Watching Cameroon play at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 has many a football enthusiast wondering what could be in the water back home? The Indomitable Lionesses are in Morocco because CAF expanded the continental tournament from 12 to 16 teams and Le Continent (the Continent) as they like to be referred to, have not looked back.

For every game that they have played, Cameroon have not only dominated from the get-go but they have made sure their opponents leave the pitch well knowing that Cameroon deserved to win. This type of performance is one that leaves the opponents tired mentally and physically.

“We want to finish strong. We are going for the three points. We mean business at this tournament. We know that we have to be consistent every time that we get onto the pitch and against Cabo Verde, we need to do exactly that,” Valentine Nguele says in a re-assuring manner.

Japan-based Easther Mayi Kith who features for Urawa Red Diamonds highlights her side’s determination to finish the group stages on a strong note. “We want to continue to be compact as a team. When I look back at where I have played as an individual, I have learnt something from each country. In Japan, we play in little spaces, small pockets. When I played in France [Montpellier, Metz and Reims], it was about the skills and in England [Reading], it was very intense football.”

Cameroon are one of only three teams to concede a goal or less at the tournament so far. Algeria only let in one goal in three games with Ghana also conceding just once in two games. Morocco have kept three clean sheets at the tournament so far.

The Stat of the Day

Cameroon have scored in nine of their 10 previous WAFCON matches against debutants. The only exception was their 6-0 semi-final defeat to Nigeria in 1998.