Cameroon at the FIFA Women’s World Cup: Team profile and history

After missing out last time around, Cameroon will return to FIFA’s flagship women’s event as continental champions on the back of claiming their maiden tournament title at the 2026 edition of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Having graced the last 16 in their previous adventures at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (in 2015 and 2019), the Indomitable Lionesses will be looking to roar their way to uncharted territory.

FIFA provides you with the low-down on the Cameroonians’ qualifying campaign for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, their coach and their tournament history.

How Cameroon qualified for the Women’s World Cup 2027

The West Africans’ journey to Brazil 2027 was as extraordinary as it was improbable. Having initially failed to qualify for the 2026 instalment of the WAFCON, the Indomitable Lionesses were handed a reprieve following the decision to expand the tournament to 16 teams.

The Cameroonians seized the unexpected opportunity with both hands, enjoying a remarkable campaign as the squad etched their names into national footballing folklore. They overcame Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals thanks to Myriam Maeva Nyadjou’s thunderous 19th-minute free kick, securing their place at the Women’s World Cup for the third time in the process. However, Valentine Nguele’s charges weren’t done just yet.

They went on to squeeze past hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a goalless draw before cruising to a 3-0 triumph over Malawi in the trophy decider. A Marie Ngah Manga brace sandwiched between a spinning volley from Naomi Eto secured Cameroon’s maiden continental crown after they had fallen at the final hurdle in 2004, 2014 and 2016.

Midfield maestro Monique Ngock was named the tournament’s standout performer after playing an instrumental role in her country’s success. Shot-stopper Michaely Bihina also excelled on Moroccan soil and was crowned the competition’s outstanding goalkeeper after producing a string of crucial saves that had a big hand in propelling her country to their maiden African crown.

Cameroon’s Women’s World Cup 2027 fixtures and group

The Final Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ will take place on Friday, 11 December 2026 at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro.

Cameroon’s Women’s World Cup 2027 squad

The squad lists for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be announced closer to the start of the tournament.

Coach: Valentine Nguele

A former international goalkeeper who plied her trade for several clubs in her homeland, including Yaounde-based outfit Louves Minproff, Nguele replaced Jean-Baptiste Bisseck as coach of the Indomitable Lionesses in June 2026. Previously at the helm of Cameroonian top-flight side Ebolowa, the tactician, who featured at three editions of the WAFCON during her playing days, took up the national-team reins weeks prior to the Moroccan showpiece following Mike Ndoumou’s brief interim spell in charge.

Nguele wasted little time in making her mark, steering her side to continental glory and securing qualification for Brazil 2027 in her first major assignment. The strategist’s next challenge will be to carry that momentum on to the world stage.

Cameroon’s Women’s World Cup history

• Confederation: CAF

• Best Women’s World Cup: round of 16 (2015, 2019)

• Last Women’s World Cup: France 2019 (Round of 16)

• First Women’s World Cup: Canada 2015 (Round of 16)

• Women’s World Cup appearances: 3 (2015, 2019, 2027)

• Current run of successive qualifications: 1

• Overall Women’s World Cup record: P8 W3 D0 L5 F12 A12

Cameroon’s memorable Women’s World Cup moments

The CAF powerhouses announced their arrival at the global event in emphatic fashion at Vancouver’s BC Place on 8 June 2015, thrashing Ecuador 6-0, with Gaelle Enganamouit bagging a hat-trick.

Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to holders Japan in their next outing, the Cameroonians clinched their place in the last 16 by edging Switzerland by the same scoreline. Their adventure came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to China PR, but their maiden campaign had made a lasting impression.

Four years later, the Indomitable Lionesses kicked off their campaign on French soil with a 1-0 loss to Canada and a 3-1 reverse against the Netherlands, which meant that they needed to beat New Zealand in their final group match to stand any chance of progressing. Step forward Ajara Nchout, who produced a performance to remember. The sharpshooter notched a brace, including a cooly taken winner deep into stoppage time, to snatch a 2-1 victory and secure a round-of-16 berth.

England extinguished Cameroonian hopes in a 3-0 triumph, but the West Africans could reflect with immense pride on having advanced from the group stage in both of their forays on the ultimate stage in women’s football.

Cameroon’s top scorers at the Women’s World Cup

Three players share the distinction of topping Cameroon’s scoring charts at the global festival of football, with a trio of goals apiece: Enganamouit, Nchout and Gabrielle Onguene.

Enganamouit helped herself to the match ball in Cameroon’s curtain-raiser against Ecuador at the 2015 instalment. As for Nchout, she found the net against Japan at Canada 2015 before adding two more to her tally in the above-mentioned encounter with New Zealand in France four years later. Onguene, meanwhile, was on target against the Ecuadorians and the Swiss at the Canadian showpiece, then struck against the Netherlands at the 2019 event. All three players are often cited as role models for the members of the current crop.

Next in the standings is two-goal Madeleine Ngono Mani, who is followed by Christine Manie on one strike.

Photos : CAF