Binhina at WAFCON | Photo credit CAF
Cameroon did not score during 120 minutes against Morocco, but the Indomitable Lionesses still had the clearest match-winner on the field.
Her name was Michaely Bihina.
A Semifinal Waiting for One Moment
Morocco had the home crowd, more of the ball and long stretches of pressure. Cameroon stayed compact, protected the middle and accepted that the semifinal might be decided by one action.
That action appeared near the end of regulation when Bihina denied Sakina Ouzraoui in a one-on-one. It was the kind of save that can disappear in the final statistics, but without it there may never have been extra time or a penalty shootout.
The biggest moment came later. With the match still scoreless, Bihina stopped Fatima Tagnaout’s 112th-minute penalty and kept Cameroon alive. She then saved three more attempts in the shootout as Cameroon eliminated the host nation 3–1 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
Bihina celebrating her player of the match trophy | Photo credit by CAF online
More Than Four Penalty Stops
The numbers are impressive: one penalty saved in extra time and three more in the shootout. The details behind those saves are even more important.
From a coaching perspective, Bihina’s patience stood out. She stayed balanced, waited for information from each taker and then committed. She did not allow the occasion or the crowd to force her into moving too early.
Her reset between kicks was just as important. A goalkeeper can make one save, become overwhelmed by the emotion and lose focus on the next attempt. Bihina celebrated, returned to her line and prepared again. Every penalty became its own moment.
That combination of technique and emotional control is what separated her performance from a simple highlight reel. Her reactions helped her reach the ball, but her decision-making put her in position to make the saves.
Nigeria Had Already Seen the Warning
The Morocco performance did not arrive from nowhere. In the quarterfinal, Bihina made nine saves and kept a clean sheet as Cameroon eliminated defending champion Nigeria 1–0.
In two knockout matches against two of the continent’s strongest teams, she did not concede a goal. Cameroon’s defenders deserve credit for protecting central spaces, contesting second balls and continuing to compete when opponents controlled possession. When that structure was finally broken, Bihina provided the final layer of protection.
The best goalkeeping performances are usually built on more than spectacular saves. They include positioning before the shot, communication with defenders, control of the penalty area and the ability to stay ready during long periods without the ball. Bihina gave Cameroon all of that when the pressure was highest.
monique ngock challenging Zineb Redouani Photo credit CAF online
One Match From a First African Title
Bihina entered the tournament as a goalkeeper many supporters outside Cameroon did not know. She will leave it as one of WAFCON’s defining players.
Cameroon are back in the final for the first time since 2016. Against Malawi, they will have an opportunity to win the country’s first African title.
For Bihina, the final is another chance to show that her knockout performances were not isolated moments. Nine saves against Nigeria and four penalty stops against Morocco have already carried Cameroon this far. One more composed performance could carry them into history.
