Those who write the books of history rarely live to proofread them. But Cameroon women’s national football team coach Valentine Nguele is here to proofread the pages she once helped write.
On Sunday, the world watched history unfold. Malawi, by reaching the final in their first-ever appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), had already made history. Cameroon, meanwhile, were familiar faces at this stage. But history was to be written all the same.
The Indomitable Lionesses were either going to extend their record as the country with the most defeats in WAFCON finals to five in Morocco, or break the curse by winning their maiden title.
If anyone had doubted Malawi or Cameroon before the tournament, it was only natural. But history has a way of revealing itself, and both teams quickly dispelled any doubts by knocking out 10-time champions Nigeria.
Malawi went a step further, announcing that the final would be a spectacle when they thrashed Algeria 3-1 in the semi-finals. The result confirmed their status as the tournament’s most potent attacking side, having scored 12 goals and conceded seven.
Cameroon, meanwhile, booked their place in the final through a penalty-shootout victory over hosts Morocco. They kept their second clean sheet of the knockout stage and had conceded just two goals from open play throughout the tournament.
Analysts and pundits therefore predicted a final that would pit a goal machine against a defensive wall.
But, to Malawi’s surprise, Cameroon quenched their fire in the first half, scoring three goals through Marie Ngah Manga and Naomi Leslie Eto.
The journey of the Indomitable Lionesses
As the nation celebrates its first major silverware in women’s football, the spotlight now turns to the woman behind the historic triumph: Valentine Nguele.
In 2004, Nguele was a goalkeeper when Cameroon lost the WAFCON final 4-0 to the Super Falcons of Nigeria. It was not the first time the Indomitable Lionesses had lost a final to the same opponents, and it was not going to be the last.
Nigeria denied Cameroon the ultimate prize in 1991, 2004, 2014 and 2016.
But the 4-0 defeat in 2004 was the one Nguele remembered during her post-match press briefing on Sunday, just two months after taking charge of the national team.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence. It is symmetry. It is history. It is everything.
Those who do not know her might attribute the victory to luck. Nguele, however, has dismissed such claims, and rightly so.
“I have never gone to any competition [as a coach] and returned without a medal,” she disclosed on Sunday.
With a CAF coaching licence ‘A’ and about 18 years of experience, Nguele has won more than 10 domestic titles. Her success with local clubs such as Louves MINPROFF, Eding Sport Filles and FC Ebolowa made her a compelling choice for the job.
And in just two months, she has turned the dreams of millions of Cameroonians into reality.
It is a feat she attributes to hard work, discipline and collective belief.
“We had to take it match after match and see how we would evolve in this tournament. And above all, stay humble. It is the sum of all that which created a well-knit group, right from the start. The girls also accepted to suffer during the two months without giving up. Each match was a final for us. They proved they could hold on for six matches, six finals.”
Her statement confirms the saying that “No sweat, no sweet,” or, perhaps, in this case, “no sacrifice, no glory.”
