Michaely Bihina: The Cameroon goalkeeper making waves at Wafcon 2026
Fans in Cameroon are hailing Michaely Bihina after her heroics helped the Indomitable Lionesses reach the 2026 Wafcon final.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Happiraphael
Michaely Bihina has become the toast of Cameroon following her incredible performances at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The 22-year-old goalkeeper has been instrumental in helping the Indomitable Lionesses return to the final for the first time since 2016.
In a tense semi-final against Morocco, Bihina shone by saving a penalty in the 118th minute before keeping out three more in the subsequent shootout, leading Cameroon to a 3-1 victory. She later revealed that she had meticulously studied the penalty-taking habits of the Moroccan players throughout the competition.
This performance followed a historic quarter-final win over Nigeria, where she set a tournament record with nine saves in a single match. That victory not only dethroned the defending champions but also confirmed Cameroon's qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Bihina, who currently plays for Benfica, initially began her career as a striker. A coach advised her to switch positions due to her height, and the move paid off remarkably, with a national team call-up arriving just six months later.
The goalkeeper now faces one final test as Cameroon prepares to meet debutants Malawi in Sunday's final. With three clean sheets in five matches, Bihina is widely considered a top contender for the player of the tournament award.