WAFCON 2026: “We couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Dimitri Lipoff pleased with the Indomitable Lionesses’ victory over Mali

Cameroon got their campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations off to a flying start with a 2–1 victory over Mali in Group D.

The result was met with satisfaction by Dimitri Lipoff, coordinator of the Indomitable Lionesses. For him, despite his team’s struggles in the first half, this victory represents the ideal scenario to kick off the tournament.

“It’s absolutely vital to win your first match, so we couldn’t have asked for a better start. It’s true that we didn’t have a good first half and weren’t in control of the ball.

We have a very young squad with few highly experienced players, so yes, we did struggle to get into the game. We got our act together in the second half and it paid off. So I’m pleased that the girls stepped up in the second half, because we couldn’t afford to have a second half like the first.”

Cameroon will face Ghana on Sunday 2 August in their second group-stage match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. This is a highly anticipated clash between the two teams, who have each won their opening match in Group D.