Why Michaely Bihina is the keeper making waves at Wafcon

Image caption, Michaely Bihina has kept three clean sheets in five matches at Wafcon 2026

Michaely Bihina has kept three clean sheets in five matches at Wafcon 2026

One name has become the toast of Cameroon following her heroics at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).

Some in the Central African nation are already calling for a statue to built in honour of Michaely Bihina after her incredible performances which have helped the Indomitable Lionesses return to the final for the first time since 2016.

The young goalkeeper has been one of the stars of the tournament with player-of-the-match performances against Nigeria in the quarter-finals and hosts Morocco in the last four.

"I'm very happy and full of emotions because for our generation it's the first time to play the final," she told the BBC World Service after saving four penalties, one in extra time and three in the subsequent shootout, in Wednesday's semi-final win over the Moroccans.

"We thank all the people who support us."

The 22-year-old made nine saves against Nigeria, setting the record for the most in a single match at the finals as Cameroon dethroned the defending champions - a victory which also booked their place at the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup.

Bihina described it as "a great day for Cameroonian football".

"Playing in my first Wafcon and being able to beat Nigeria and qualify for the World Cup is historic," she told the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

"I am so excited and happy that as a team we have achieved this.

"We had an objective - to change the history of our national team against Nigeria."

Cameroon have previously lost three Wafcon finals - all against Nigeria (2004, 2014 and 2016) - but will now face debutants Malawi for the continental crown on Sunday (19:00 GMT).

Bihina has been at the heart of the Indomitable Lionesses' challenge, with three clean sheets in five matches.

Bihina's clutch moment against Morocco

Image caption, Cameroon missed the 2024 Wafcon but have gone unbeaten during their run to this year's final, with Bihina a central character

Cameroon missed the 2024 Wafcon but have gone unbeaten during their run to this year's final, with Bihina a central character

A tense semi-final against Morocco saw few clear-cut chances in Rabat before the game went into extra time.

Bihina was presented with her chance to shine late on when the Atlas Lionesses were awarded a penalty after Cameroon defender Maryam Nyadjou caught Sakina Ouzraoui in the face with her arm.

Fatima Tagnaout stepped up to take the 118th-minute spot kick, but Bihina dived to her right to push the ball away and send the tie to a shootout.

"When I saved the first penalty during the game, I said inside my mind if we go to penalties I think I can do more," Bihina said.

"I have to catch minimum three penalties."

The Benfica keeper was as good as her word as she kept out efforts from Kenza Chapelle, Maryame Atiq and Ouzraoui to help her team to a 3-1 win.

"I studied the penalties of Morocco girls during all the competition," she revealed afterwards.

Bihina is widely considered as a contender for player of the tournament alongside Malawi's Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa.

Younger sibling Temwa leads the goalscoring charts with five goals and two assists, while Temwa has four goals.

Starting out as a striker

Image caption, Bihina won the player of the match award for her performance in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Nigeria which guaranteed Cameroon a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup

Bihina won the player of the match award for her performance in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Nigeria which guaranteed Cameroon a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup

Bihina was born in Ekounou, in the Nkoldongo area of Cameroon's capital Yaounde, on 28 December 2003.

She started playing football as a striker, but as she grew her coach advised her to switch positions.

"My coach told me that I was too tall to be a striker and that I would do better as a goalkeeper," Bihina told Caf as she described her rapid rise to the top after switching position.

"I did that and six months later I was summoned to the national team."

She joined Portuguese club Racing Power aged 15 and helped them win the second tier league title in 2022-23.

The following season Bihina was named the top flight's best goalkeeper as her side finished third in the table.

This February she joined Benfica on a three-year deal, a move she described as "a dream come true", and she has already won a league and cup double with the Lisbon giants.

Image caption, Bihina won the league and Portuguese cup after signing for Benfica in February

Bihina won the league and Portuguese cup after signing for Benfica in February

Now she has inspired her country to reach next year's World Cup in Brazil and progress to the Wafcon final.

"For me personally, it has been a long journey of hard work and discipline," she said.

"I continue to work with humility and try to improve every day."

Bihina will now face one last test against Malawi and the Chawinga sisters, with Cameroon aiming to put their previous Wafcon final heartbreaks behind them.

"It will be a good game," she told the BBC.

"We try to give our best like every game. We know we will challenge."

Whatever happens, Bihina has already written her name in the Wafcon history books.

Claiming the title could be the icing on the cake to cap the spectacular displays which have announced the goalkeeper as a star of the women's game on the continent.