Emmanuel Akindubuwa

Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina has emerged as one of the stars of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations after producing decisive performances against Nigeria and Morocco. She set a tournament record with nine saves against Nigeria and saved a penalty during extra time before stopping three more in the semi-final shootout against Morocco. The 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper has kept three clean sheets in five matches, helping Cameroon reach its first Wafcon final since 2016 and qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup. She will face Malawi and the Chawinga sisters in the final.

Nigerian footballer Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene condemns misogynistic attitudes toward women in Nigeria, including social-media comments that portray married women and mothers as too old or incapable of continuing their careers. After giving birth in 2024, she resumed training and was recalled to the national team, crediting her husband, family and teammates for supporting her return. She argues that motherhood should not end an athlete’s career and urges Nigerian men to support their wives’ ambitions. The article also notes that FIFA maternity protections exist but are implemented unevenly across African football, where professional infrastructure remains limited.

Nigeria midfielder Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene says marriage and motherhood should not end a woman's football career, criticizing Nigerian fans whose comments make players fear losing national-team opportunities. After giving birth to her son in 2024, she returned to training and was recalled to Nigeria's setup, although she did not make the final squad for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. She credits her husband, family and teammates with supporting her recovery, while assistant coach Ann Chiejine also argues that players should not have to choose between family and football. FIFA maternity protections exist, but implementation remains uneven across Africa.