Former Cameroon international Estelle Johnson has hailed the Indomitable Lionesses after they secured their first-ever African Women’s Championship title, describing their success as exactly what the country needed ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Cameroon claimed the continental crown after defeating Malawi in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), completing an impressive run that also saw the Lionesses eliminate Nigeria and hosts Morocco.
The victory has prompted widespread celebrations in Cameroon and among the country’s diaspora, with Johnson among those to publicly congratulate the team.
The former international expressed her delight on social media, saying: “I’m smiling, shouting, and screaming with JOY!”
Johnson, who had previously celebrated the Lionesses after they secured qualification for the 2027 World Cup, believes their continental success could provide the foundation for a strong campaign at the global tournament.
“This AFCON is exactly what Cameroon needed.” The Lionesses are brimming with confidence, and this team cohesion will continue to strengthen over the next ten months leading up to the big event. GO LIONESSES! I can’t wait for the World Cup in Brazil in 2027!
The former Lioness said the timing of the WAFCON triumph was particularly significant, arguing that the team’s victory had given the players confidence and an opportunity to build greater unity during the preparations for the World Cup.
Cameroon will now turn its attention towards Brazil in 2027, with Johnson expressing confidence that the momentum generated by the African title can benefit the young squad.
She also praised the manner in which the Lionesses reached the final and ultimately overcame Malawi, highlighting the transformation of a side that had struggled simply to qualify for the tournament into African champions.
“What an inspiration this Cameroonian team is! Starting from scratch, having barely managed to qualify for the tournament, they ultimately won the WAFCON with authority! You are the future of Cameroonian football, ladies! Let’s give you a round of applause.”
The comments come as congratulations continue to pour in following the team’s return from their successful continental campaign.
The Lionesses’ route to the title included victories over some of Africa’s strongest women’s teams. They successively eliminated Nigeria and Morocco before overcoming Malawi in the final to claim Cameroon’s first African Women’s Championship crown.
The achievement marks a significant moment for women’s football in Cameroon and has raised expectations around the national team’s prospects at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
For Johnson, the team’s victory is about more than adding a trophy to Cameroon’s honours. She sees it as an important step for a new generation of players and believes the confidence and togetherness developed during the tournament can continue to grow in the months before the World Cup.
With the continental title now secured and qualification for the global tournament already achieved, the Lionesses have an opportunity to build on their success. Johnson’s message reflects the growing optimism surrounding a team that has gone from barely qualifying for the WAFCON to lifting the trophy.
The focus now shifts towards Brazil, where Cameroon will seek to carry the confidence of their historic African triumph into the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
