WAFCON 2026: “We’re not the favourites,” says Dimitri Lipoff ahead of Cameroon’s match against Mali

Ahead of the Indomitable Lionesses’ first match at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the Cameroon national team’s coordinator was keen to temper expectations.

Cameroon’s women’s national team kick off their WAFCON campaign on Wednesday 29 July in Morocco. The Cameroonians’ first match in the competition will be against Mali at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

However, at a pre-match press conference, the Indomitable Lionesses’ coordinator refused to accept the role of favourites. Dimitri Lipoff emphasised that the Malian team has what it takes to compete.

“I don’t think we’re favourites, even against Mali. They have a very strong team, with most of their players based abroad. Unlike us, they’ve been preparing for several months, with the same coach, the same squad and a great deal of stability.

They’ve had more time than us. But I know we’re very well prepared. Even though we’ve had little time, within the timeframe we were given, we could hardly have done any better.”

This Group D match will kick off at 8 pm GMT.