Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde in their final Group B match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the result giving the island nation a historic first point in the competition.
The Indomitable Lionesses had already secured their place in the knockout stage before the match, meaning the draw had little bearing on their progress. For Cape Verde, however, the result provided a significant moment as they ended their tournament campaign by taking a point from one of Africa’s leading women’s football teams.
Cameroon entered the game as favourites against a Cape Verde side that had already been eliminated from the tournament. Having secured qualification for the next round, the Indomitable Lionesses looked to finish the group stage strongly.
They made the better start and their pressure eventually produced the opening goal shortly before half-time.
Grace Davilla Mendoua, the FC Ebolowa Filles forward, finished off a strong attacking move to put Cameroon ahead and give the already-qualified side a 1-0 advantage going into the break.
The match changed dramatically after the interval, however, as Cape Verde responded with greater determination.
With nothing left to lose in their final appearance at the tournament, Cape Verde levelled five minutes after the restart. Moreira scored in the 50th minute to bring the islanders back into the contest and reward their efforts after Cameroon had controlled much of the opening period.
The equaliser gave Cape Verde renewed belief and transformed the momentum of the game.
Cameroon subsequently pushed forward in search of a winning goal, launching a series of attacks as they attempted to restore their advantage. But Cape Verde held firm and prevented the Indomitable Lionesses from finding a second goal.
The final whistle confirmed a 1-1 draw, bringing Cameroon’s final Group B fixture to an end without affecting their qualification for the knockout stage.
For Cape Verde, the result was considerably more significant.
The islanders had already been eliminated before facing Cameroon, but their performance against one of the continent’s established powers ensured they would leave the tournament with something to celebrate.
The draw represented Cape Verde’s first point in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and capped their campaign with a memorable performance against a team that had already booked its place in the next round.
Cameroon, meanwhile, progressed from Group B despite being unable to finish their final group fixture with a victory. Their early lead through Mendoua was cancelled out by Moreira shortly after half-time, leaving the two sides to share the points.
Cape Verde’s resilience in the second half proved decisive as they resisted Cameroon’s late pressure to preserve the scoreline.
The result therefore carried contrasting significance for the two teams. Cameroon continued their journey into the knockout phase, while Cape Verde ended their tournament run with a landmark achievement.
After being eliminated, Cape Verde nevertheless demonstrated that they could compete with one of the strongest sides in the competition. Their ability to recover from conceding just before half-time and hold Cameroon to a draw ensured their final match would be remembered as a historic occasion.
For the Indomitable Lionesses, attention now turns to the knockout stage, where they will continue their bid for success after advancing from the group.
For Cape Verde, the campaign ends with their first-ever point in the competition and a performance that provided a positive conclusion to their tournament.
The 1-1 draw was therefore more than just the final result of Group B: it was a landmark moment for Cape Verde and a reminder of their growing competitiveness on the continental stage.
