2026 Women's AFCON: Bihina, the revelation of Cameroon

A masterpiece against Morocco

The scenario seemed, however, to be turning in favor of Morocco. In the 118th minute, during stoppage time in extra time, the referee awarded a penalty to the Moroccans after consulting VAR. Bihina stepped forward, held her own against Fatima Tagnaout and stopped the attempt. Cameroon stayed alive. The penalty shootout confirmed the state of grace of the Cameroonian goalkeeper. She caught or deflected 3 Moroccan attempts, condemning the Lionesses of the Atlas to elimination in front of their home crowd. Over the course of the match, throughout 120 minutes, she kept a clean sheet and delivered a heroic shutout, praised with a score of 8.9 awarded by observers.

https://x.com/CAFwomen/status/2087692813022490712/video/1?s=46

Unbeatable since the start of the tournament

This performance was no one-off. In the quarterfinals, Bihina had already been Cameroon’s heroine against Nigeria, ten-time African champions and titleholders. Her clean sheet in the 1-0 victory allowed the Indomitable Lionesses to end a historically unfavorable streak against the Super Falcons, whom they had not beaten in the CAN since 2012. Nine saves that night, including several decisive ones from the very first minute against the Nigerian attack led by Rasheedat Ajibade. After that match, the Cameroonian goalkeeper did not hide her emotion. "I am so happy. It's a dream come true. Playing in my first CAN, beating Nigeria and qualifying for the World Cup, it's historic,” she confided, still overwhelmed with emotion.

Bihina’s statistical record in the competition speaks for itself. Only 2 goals conceded and 12 saves made, for 2 clean sheets in 4 matches played. This performance earned the Benfica goalkeeper a standing ovation from the crowd when her statistics were displayed on the giant screen after the win against Nigeria.

From outfield to goal, a rapid rise

Born on December 28, 2003, and measuring 1.80 m, Michaely Kyria Bihina was not originally destined for the goalposts. Trained at Social FC du Mbam, she started out as a striker before her physique reshaped her future. "My coach told me I was too tall to be a striker and that I would be more effective as a goalkeeper. I agreed and, six months later, I was called up to the national team,” she recalled. After stints with Canon de Yaoundé girls and Éclair de Sa’a, she moved abroad to Portugal. First with Racing Power, in the second division, where she contributed to winning the title and moving up to the top tier. Her performances then attracted the giant Benfica, who signed her on February 1, 2026. A few months later, she added the league and Portuguese Cup double to her list of achievements. On Cameroonian turf, another moment marked this CAN. After the win against Nigeria, her former Benfica teammate, Nigerian Christy Ucheibe, came to congratulate her. "She told me she was happy for me and that I deserved it. She is a very dear friend," Bihina shared.

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The weight of a legacy

Voted player of the match against Nigeria, Bihina recognizes the impact of what she is accomplishing for Cameroonian football. "I was able to show that Cameroon has very good goalkeepers. It's an honor to be mentioned alongside the great Cameroonian keepers who have represented our country over the years,” she explained. A name increasingly resonating alongside the likes of Thomas N’Kono, Joseph-Antoine Bell, Jacques Songo’o, Carlos Kameni or André Onana. A lineage of great Cameroonian goalkeepers that Bihina, at 22, intends to continue at the very top.

Heading for the final

Lifted into the air by her teammates after the final whistle in Rabat, Bihina and Cameroon will now play in the 2026 CAN Féminine final, aiming for a first continental title in the history of Cameroonian women's football. Qualification for the next World Cup, already secured, offers this generation of Indomitable Lionesses a showcase unseen since 2019.