Cameroon head coach Valentine Nguele has praised the determination and resilience of her players after the Indomitable Lionesses booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Cameroon secured qualification with a match to spare after defeating Ghana in their second Group D fixture on Sunday, maintaining a perfect record following their opening victory over Mali.
The result confirmed the Indomitable Lionesses’ place in the knockout stage and strengthened their reputation as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
Speaking after the match, Nguele expressed pride in her team’s performances while reminding observers that Cameroon entered the competition under unusual circumstances after returning as a “lucky loser.”
“We are grateful that we were reinstated. With this status, we are not favourites for this Africa Cup of Nations,” Nguele said during her post-match press conference.
Despite not being considered among the title contenders, Cameroon have exceeded expectations by becoming one of the first teams to secure a place in the last eight.
Nguele said her team’s focus remains on representing the country with pride rather than becoming distracted by growing expectations.
“But what I can say is that we will continue to work hard to present a good image of our country,” she added.
The Cameroon coach also highlighted the importance of handling the mental demands of tournament football as the competition moves into the knockout stages.
“You know, there’s no such thing as football without pressure, so the advice we’re giving the girls is to channel that pressure better so they can go far in the competition,” she said.
Cameroon have impressed with their tactical discipline, defensive organisation and collective spirit throughout the tournament, producing victories over both Mali and Ghana to seal qualification.
