Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026: Michaely Bihina, goalkeeper for the Indomitable Lionesses

Cameroon has always been a land of great goalkeepers. From Thomas Nkono to Joseph-Antoine Bell, by way of André Onana and Alioum Boukar, the country has regularly distinguished itself in this position. With the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon, a new goalkeeper is writing her own chapter: Michaely Bihina.

Impressive since the start of the competition, the Cameroonian goalkeeper has established herself as one of the tournament's breakout stars. Standing at 1.80m tall, the Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portugal) goalkeeper brings serenity, power, and confidence to a Cameroonian defense that has withstood the onslaught of the continent's best teams.

In the knockout matches, Bihina particularly raised her level. In the quarter-final against Nigeria, she made nine saves, allowing the Indomitable Lionesses to stay in the game and continue their journey.

But it was in the semi-final against Morocco that the Cameroonian goalkeeper truly stepped up her game. In a particularly tense match, she proved decisive until the very end. In the 118th minute, she notably saved Fatima Zahra Tagnaout's penalty, before repeating the feat in the penalty shootout.

Bihina then stopped three Moroccan attempts, securing a spectacular qualification for Cameroon in the final. This performance perfectly illustrates his composure and his ability to rise to the occasion when the pressure is at its peak.

Her performances also earned her two consecutive Player of the Match awards. This individual recognition rewards the goalkeeper's growing influence on the Cameroonian team's journey.

Solid on her line, reassuring in the air, and particularly formidable in penalty shootouts, Michaely Bihina is now much more than just a goalkeeper. She has become one of the Indomitable Lionesses' key assets.

As Cameroon prepares to play in the final of this Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the 1.80m goalkeeper has emerged as one of the key figures in the Cameroonian campaign. And if the Indomitable Lionesses want to go all the way, they can count on a last line of defense who seems to have reached a new level at the perfect time.