About soter

Posts by :

14, August 2026

Germany: Mfuni annual convention has kicked off in Mulheim ⁰

The European chapter of the Mfuni Cultural and Development Association (MFUCADA) has kicked off its annual convention and uniform launch in the beautiful German city of Mülheim, bringing together members and supporters in a celebration of culture, unity and community development.

The convention, which began today, will culminate in a grand gala night in Duisburg, where Cameroonians and friends of Manyu culture are expected to come together in their numbers to celebrate the Mfuni community and its cultural heritage.

Speaking on the program Dr. Eta Valerie Ayamba, President of MFUCADA, announced that the gala night will be animated by Eyum Anneh, Manyu Division’s Germany-based cultural ambassador. His participation is expected to add colour and vibrancy to an evening dedicated to culture, entertainment, fellowship and community solidarity.

Mfuni is a village in Eyumojock Subdivision of Manyu Division in Cameroon’s South-West Region, and the European chapter of MFUCADA continues to provide a platform for sons and daughters of the community in the diaspora to preserve their cultural identity while contributing to the development of their home community.

Beyond the celebration, the convention and uniform launch represent an opportunity for Cameroonians in Germany and across Europe to demonstrate solidarity with grassroots community initiatives. Such gatherings help strengthen bonds among Cameroonians abroad, promote cultural heritage and create opportunities for collective development.

Cameroonians, particularly sons and daughters of Manyu and friends of the Mfuni community, are therefore being called upon to come out en masse and support MFUCADA. Their presence at the gala will not only make the celebration more colourful but will also send a strong message of unity, pride in Cameroonian culture and commitment to community development.

From Mülheim to Duisburg, the MFUCADA European chapter is inviting everyone to be part of what promises to be a memorable celebration of Mfuni, Manyu and Cameroonian cultural heritage.

Come out, support the Mfuni community, celebrate our culture and make the gala night a resounding success!

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai

14, August 2026

Where is Bishop Francis Lysinge now? ⁰

There are moments when words seem too small for the mystery before us. The burial of Bishop Emeritus Francis Teke Lysinge, former Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, is one such moment.

He has been laid to rest. The Church has prayed. The faithful have mourned. The solemn rites have been celebrated, with the Papal Nuncio to Cameroon, His Grace Archbishop Avelino Bettencourt leading the historic ceremony. And now, beneath the silence that follows the final farewell, one question rises above all others:

Where is Bishop Francis Lysinge now? For the believer, the answer is not found merely in the grave. He has met HIM. He has met the One to whom he gave his life. He has met Christ the King.

For decades, Bishop Francis Lysinge stood before God’s people proclaiming the Gospel, administering the sacraments, consoling the brokenhearted, challenging the powerful, encouraging the weak and reminding the Church that this world is not our final home. He spoke of Christ, prayed to Christ, served Christ and called others to follow Christ.

Now Bishop Lysinge the preacher has encountered the One he preached. The shepherd has met the Shepherd. The servant has met the Master. The pilgrim has reached the destination. And perhaps this is where the mourning Christian must allow grief to give way, slowly and painfully, to hope.

We of the Cameroon Concord Group mourn Bishop Francis Lysinge because death creates an emptiness that cannot be easily explained away. His voice will no longer be heard in the familiar places. His presence will no longer be felt among the people he served. Mamfe has lost a father. The Church has lost a shepherd. Cameroon has lost a son. But the Christian faith dares to look beyond the coffin.We believe that death does not have the final word.Christ does.

And so, as we stand at the threshold between farewell and eternity, we can imagine Bishop Francis Lysinge standing before the King he served—not with the MITRE of a bishop, not with the titles of office, not surrounded by the ceremonies of this world, but simply as a child of God. There, every earthly distinction falls away. There is no diocese to govern, no homily to prepare, no administrative burden to carry, no controversy to explain and no human expectation to satisfy. There is only Christ. Christ the King! The One who called him! The One who sustained him! The One whom he sought, sometimes through triumph and sometimes through trial. And now, by the grace for which every Christian prays, the One whom he has finally met face to face.

That thought should also make us examine ourselves. Because Bishop Francis Lysinge‘s funeral is not only about remembering the dead, it is about confronting the living. One day, every title we carry will become past tense. One day, every office we occupy will belong to someone else.

One day, the applause will stop, the arguments will cease, the possessions will remain behind and our journey will come down to the most fundamental question of all: Did we know Christ? Not merely know about Him. Did we love Him? Did we serve Him? Did we recognize Him in the poor, the wounded, the forgotten and the stranger? Did our lives point people toward Him? Did we remain faithful when faith became costly?

That is the soul-searching question Bishop Lysinge’s departure leaves with us. The funeral procession has ended, but the examination of conscience has begun. Perhaps that is one of the greatest tributes we can offer him—not merely to praise the life he lived, but to allow his death to change the way we live ours.

Bishop Francis Lysinge has gone before us. And if his life taught us anything, it is that the Christian vocation is ultimately a journey toward a Person. Not toward a title. Not toward an institution. Not toward earthly recognition. Toward Christ the King.

So let the bells of Mamfe town ring not only with sorrow, but with hope. Let the Church grieve, but let her also believe.

Let those who loved Bishop Lysinge shed their tears, but let those tears be accompanied by prayer. And let us say, with reverence and with the hope of the Resurrection: Rest in peace, Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge.

You preached the King. You served the King. You carried His cross. And now, after the long pilgrimage of faith, you have met HIM. Christ the King.

May HE receive His servant into the fullness of His Kingdom, and may Bishop Lysinge’s memory become not merely something we preserve, but a summons to each of us to prepare for the day when we, too, shall stand before the King.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

14, August 2026

Cameroon hails Lionesses after penalty shootout sends team to WAFCON final ⁰

Cameroonian officials and supporters have praised the women’s national football team after it advanced to the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Indomitable Lionesses edged host Morocco 3-1 on penalties in Rabat on Wednesday night, after 120 minutes ended 0-0 in a tense semi-final.

Minister of Sports and Physical Education Narcisse Moulle Kombi called it a “brilliant qualification”.

“With this outstanding performance, our valiant Lionesses have shown determination, solidarity, strength of character, and an exceptional fighting spirit,” Kombi said in a statement late Wednesday. “They are proudly flying Cameroon’s colors at the top of African women’s football, and now they are aiming for a new continental title.”

In Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital, fans flooded the streets chanting in celebration, reserving special praise for goalkeeper Michaely Bihina after she saved three penalties in the shootout.

“Michaely is our savior. Her historic performance made the difference. We are so happy and we keep supporting the girls. Good luck in the final,” football fan Samuel Tabi, said.

This is Cameroon’s fourth time reaching the WAFCON final. The team has never won the tournament.

The Lionesses will face Malawi in the final on Sunday.

Source: Xinhuanet

14, August 2026

Battle For Etoudi: Tchiroma announces ‘imminent’ return ⁰

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the self-proclaimed “elected president” of Cameroon, in exile in The Gambia since November 2025, say his return to the country is imminent.

Tchiroma lost the October 12, 2025 presidential election to veteran leader Paul Biya.

The opposition leader said his return to Cameroon is near after initiating legal proceedings in France and Switzerland against alleged perpetrators of the post-election repression.

He did not specify a date for his return.

In its statement, his team indicated that several people had suggested dates for his return and that some had even expressed “malicious intentions.” After consultations, the opposition leader stated that he wants to finalise the necessary arrangements for a return that he hopes will be “orderly.”

He called on Cameroonians residing in the country and in the diaspora to “remain mobilised and ready” to welcome the man he continues to present as “the people’s choice.”

Issa Tchiroma Bakary maintains that the institutional situation in Cameroon since October 12, 2025, strengthens his resolve to return “as soon as possible” to take over the leadership of the country.

The statement, however, does not give a precise return date, merely mentioning ongoing preparations.

The announcement comes a few weeks after the filing of two criminal complaints with the Swiss courts, based on universal jurisdiction, targeting, according to him, the alleged perpetrators of violence and acts of repression committed after the contested presidential election of October 12, 2025.

In a statement, Issa Tchiroma Bakary asserts that these proceedings concern “massacres and other acts of repression” that he attributes to the Yaoundé government against Cameroonians contesting the election results.

The former minister indicated that this action in Switzerland was a continuation of complaints filed on June 12, 2026, with the French courts, also based on universal jurisdiction.

He added that similar procedures were being considered in other countries that are party to international conventions on combating torture and enforced disappearances.

According to him, the choice of Switzerland is particularly significant because of President Paul Biya’s regular visits to the country.

The opposition leader presented these steps as a way to combat impunity for those allegedly responsible for post-election violence.

Source: Apanews

14, August 2026

Food insecurity threatens 2.6 million Cameroonians outside conflict zones ⁰

Food insecurity in Cameroon now extends well beyond regions affected by armed conflict, with about 2.6 million people in relatively stable areas exposed to acute food insecurity risks, according to a report published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on August 7, 2026.

Of the roughly 4.5 million people identified in at-risk areas between January and March, 1.8 million lived in regions directly affected by conflict, particularly the Far North, Northwest and Southwest. The remaining 2.6 million lived in areas relatively spared from those security crises.

The figures show that food vulnerability cannot be explained solely by population displacement, insecurity or disruptions to economic activity caused by conflict. It also affects areas where markets function better and agricultural production is considered more stable. According to the INS, the affected populations account for 17% and 13%, respectively, of the populations in the two categories of areas.

Less Severe but Persistent Vulnerability

Conditions remain less severe in areas unaffected by conflict. About one in five households there has inadequate food consumption. The INS attributes this relative resilience to better market access, more stable agricultural production and greater diversification of food sources.

Trends over the three-month period also point to relative stability. In eight of Cameroon’s 10 regions, the share of households with inadequate food consumption showed no significant change. Only the North and Northwest recorded a slight increase in the number of affected households.

Stability, however, does not mean improvement. The INS warned that the relatively stable national picture masks localized deterioration that could emerge in areas under greater pressure, particularly in the North.

For areas unaffected by conflict, the institute expects current conditions to persist, with no significant improvement but no major deterioration either. This raises the risk that a substantial share of the population could remain trapped in persistent food vulnerability even outside areas affected by security crises.

5.4 Million People at Risk on Average in the First Quarter

At the national level, indicators improved over the course of the quarter. The proportion of the population considered at risk fell from 22% in January to 16% in February, according to the INS. Across the first quarter of 2026, however, the rate averaged 18%, equivalent to about 5.4 million people. The figure points to significant vulnerability despite temporary improvements in some indicators.

That estimate must be distinguished from the 4.5 million people who lived in areas identified as exposed to acute food insecurity risks between January and March. The two figures refer to different statistical indicators and populations and should not be treated as equivalent.

The INS findings broaden the issue beyond the humanitarian emergency in Cameroon’s conflict-affected regions. In relatively stable areas, persistent food insecurity also raises questions about household incomes, families’ ability to absorb higher prices and the effectiveness of food production and distribution systems.

The relative stability recorded in the first quarter therefore does not eliminate the threat. Instead, it indicates that a significant share of the population remains close to the vulnerability threshold and could fall into greater food insecurity after a shock to prices, harvests or household incomes.

Source: Business in Cameroon

14, August 2026

CIA doubted Israeli intel on alleged Iranian threat that forced Trump to change planes ⁰

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly had serious doubts about Israeli intelligence claiming that Iran was planning to assassinate US President Donald Trump during his July visit to Turkey, according to a report.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that CIA analysts did not find the Israeli intelligence compelling and conveyed their skepticism to the Trump administration.

One US official described the warning as “Israeli-derived, not US-generated, and viewed as low confidence,” while another said some intelligence officials believed it was intended to influence Trump’s decisions rather than simply warn him of an imminent threat.

The report said Israel was particularly concerned about improving relations between Washington and Ankara, as Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Turkey’s possible return to the US F-35 fighter jet program.

Israeli officials oppose the potential sale of the advanced US fighter to Turkey, arguing that it could weaken Israel’s so-called military advantage in the region.

One former official described the incident as part of a broader pattern of Israelis seeking to “shape presidential decision-making.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also received the warning but did not treat it as serious enough to prevent him from boarding Air Force One for the return journey, according to the report.

Democratic Senator Christopher Van Hollen likewise questioned the intelligence, asking whether the Israeli-provided information was “independently verifiable.”

“I have no doubt that Iran would like to see the president gone, but this all seems a little fantastical,” Van Hollen added.

The intelligence warning nevertheless triggered a highly unusual security operation during Trump’s departure from Turkey on July 8, with the Secret Service removing him from Air Force One after the NATO summit.

Trump was transported inside an airport catering vehicle to an Air Force C-32A, which then flew him to Britain while two F-16 fighter jets provided an escort.

Air Force One continued its flight with White House officials, security personnel, support staff and journalists aboard, effectively serving as a decoy while Trump traveled on the smaller aircraft.

Trump later claimed he had not been frightened by the reported threat and said he simply followed the Secret Service’s instructions to board “a different flight, a different plane.”

13, August 2026

Bishop Francis Lysinge laid to rest today ⁰

The late Bishop of Mamfe, Francis Teke Lysinge, will be laid to rest today (Thursday) following a requiem Mass at the Cathedral led by the Papal Nuncio to Cameroon His Grace Archbishop Avelino Bettencourt and burial afterwards in the church grounds.

Bishop Lysinge, who was 87 was in poor health and died on Wednesday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John of God Health Centre in Mamfe.

The late Bishop Emeritus spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament discerning God’s will and embraced it with fidelity, courage, simplicity, and joy.

His ministry was marked throughout by great compassion for the most vulnerable.

In his fourteen years as Bishop, he travelled with his secretary twice to the Federal Republic of Germany, where he was hands-on labouring to build the Cameroon Catholic Community in Mulheim.

The late Bishop undertook a walk across all parishes of the diocese at the tail end of his ministry assuring Christians that there is no hope without Christ.

He marked his 87th birthday with a mass at his home in Bachuo-Ntai and a surprise gathering was thrown for him by the current Bishop of Mamfe, Rev Dr Abangalo.

Originally from Fako Division in the South West, he was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, which stretches from Kupe Muaneneguba Division via Lebialem to Manyu on the 21st of April 1999 and remained in the position until December 28, 2013.

Bishop Lysinge was described by several priests of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province as the most gentle of men and a steady and consoling presence for the people of the diocese of Mamfe, particularly those experiencing any kind of struggle or sadness.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea said there is profound sadness at news of the death, describing Bishop Lysinge as dearly loved by the many whose lives he touched in his extraordinary pastoral ministry.

His Episcopal motto was Annunciation, Fiat voluntas tua (“Thy will be done”) and his ministry radiated that in his care for the poor, anyone who was in trouble and anyone struggling in life.

By Kingsley Betek in Mamfe with additional reporting and photos from Soter Agbaw-Ebai

13, August 2026

Iran exposes US military as weaker than perceived ⁰

A senior adviser to the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the recent US-Israeli aggression against Iran has exposed the US military as “weaker than what we perceived,” stressing that Iran emerged victorious after defeating Washington’s main objectives.

In an interview with American broadcaster PBS published on Tuesday, Mohammad Reza Naqdi said the past five months had given Iran a clearer picture of the capabilities of the US military.

“In these five months, … we have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived,” he said.

Naqdi stressed that Iran had won the war, saying the longer it lasts, the more experience Iran gains.

“Certainly, victory is on our side, after the defeat of America’s two main objectives, the toppling of the leadership and the breaking up of Iran,” he said.

Naqdi said the US response was marked by “confusion and bewilderment,” stating that Washington lacked a clear strategy and repeatedly changed its objectives.

He pointed to US threats to invade Kharg Island and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the mobilization of US warships, saying Iran had emerged victorious from each attempt.

“Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious,” he said.

Naqdi stressed that Iran’s objective is to “attain deterrence” so that the country can “live in security” and prevent its enemies from contemplating another attack.

He said one way to achieve that goal would be to prolong the war, impose attrition on the US and ensure that any future aggressor understands that attacking Iran would come at a cost.

Until the last day of war, Iran’s rockets will be launched

Asked about the number of missiles in Iran’s stockpile, Naqdi stressed that the Islamic Republic does not rely solely on missiles and drones, saying its faith has been central to its ability to prevail.

“First of all, we are not reliant on missiles and drones. If we are victorious, we relied on our faith to be victorious. God is with us,” he said.

He dismissed US and Israeli efforts to count Iran’s missiles, saying the country is capable of producing more missiles each day than it launches.

“Even if this war lasts for years, until the last day, Iran’s rockets will be launched,” he said.

He warned that even if Iran were to run out of missiles, the country would pose an even greater danger to the US because of Washington’s extensive economic interests around the world.

“If there comes a day when Iran has no more missiles left, that’s when we will be even more dangerous for America. Because America has thousands of economic interests throughout the world, and all of them can be easily destroyed,” he said.

Naqdi also said US President Donald Trump and his administration “work for their own interests,” stating that the war coincided with the closure of the stock market, while US officials “send positive messages” when the market opens to raise stock prices.

“If I was in the place of the American Congress, I would call for an investigative committee to compare the assets of Mr. Trump, his family, and his inner circle before the war to their assets after the war,” he said.

The commander also warned that any US nuclear attack on Iran “can end up being a mistake for them.”

“The morning after they use a bomb, all of America’s military bases around the world will be occupied. Today, things are different than World War II. The people of the world have awakened. No one in the world will allow for such a crime to be committed, because the next time it could be themselves,” he said.

Naqdi emphasized that Iran has “no enmity with the people of America,” explaining that the slogan “Death to America” refers to the US leadership.

“Death to America means death to America’s leadership, a leadership that has invaded or violated more than 70 countries since becoming a superpower,” he said.

Iran doesn’t need nuclear bombs

Naqdi stressed that Iran does not pursue a nuclear bomb and does not need one.

“Our nuclear bomb is the hearts of the people of the world that we won fighting oppression. Islamic values and the divine values of the Islamic Revolution are taking over the world. There is no need for nuclear bombs. There is no need for slaughter,” he said.

Asked why the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in public since the assassination of his father, the martyred Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the US-Israeli aggression on February 28, Naqdi said his absence was due to security reasons.

“The strategy belongs to him. Our enemy is criminal and doesn’t abide by any law,” he said, adding, “Naturally, it is due to security. Certainly, there is no other reason.”

Asked about allegations that the IRGC had refused to speak to US media, Naqdi said, “We never received a request to reject it. We would like for our voice to reach the ears of people in Western countries. It’s Western media that don’t like our voice to be heard,” he said.

“There’s nothing we do that’s indefensible and outside the values of humanity that we would want to cover up or not discuss.”

Naqdi’s remarks came against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which began on February 28 and prompted Tehran to launch daily missile and drone strikes against US and Israeli military targets across the region before Tehran and Washington signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17.

Renewed US strikes in recent weeks and other violations of the MoU have, however, once again drawn an Iranian military response and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

13, August 2026

Cameroon’s banana exports jump 34% in July to 20,577 tons ⁰

Cameroon’s banana exports rose sharply in July 2026, with all three producers active in the country recording higher shipments. According to data from the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam) reviewed by Business in Cameroon, producers exported a combined 20,577 tons during the month.

The volume was up 34.1% from 15,336 tons in July 2025. The strongest growth came from Compagnie des Bananes de Mondoni (CDBM), the second Cameroonian subsidiary of French group Compagnie Fruitière de Marseille. According to Assobacam, CDBM’s exports rose 96.6% from 1,685 tons in July 2025 to 3,313 tons a year later, an increase of 1,628 tons.

Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP), Compagnie Fruitière’s main subsidiary in Cameroon, increased its exports by 33% over the same period. The country’s largest banana producer shipped 13,577 tons in July 2026, up 3,369 tons from 10,208 tons a year earlier.

Bananas Remain a Major Source of Export Revenue

Assobacam data show that Compagnie Fruitière’s two local subsidiaries exported a combined 16,870 tons of bananas in July 2026. Together, they accounted for 82% of Cameroon’s banana exports during the month.

The remaining 18% came from the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the industry’s only state-owned operator. It also became the only producer under domestic ownership after Compagnie Fruitière subsidiaries acquired the assets of Boh Plantations PLC in 2025.

CDC, Cameroon’s second-largest employer after the public administration, exported 3,687 tons of bananas in July 2026. Shipments rose 7%, or 244 tons, from 3,443 tons in July 2025.

Bananas are one of Cameroon’s main sources of export revenue. In 2025, international banana sales generated CFA67.7 billion for the country, up 84.7% year on year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Source: Business in Cameroon

13, August 2026

Indomitable Lionesses: meet Kyria Bihina our saviour ⁰

A clean sheet against record 10-time African winners and reigning champions Nigeria is the kind of result that etches your name in the history books.

Bihina’s heroics that inspired Cameroon to a historic 1-0 win did not only ensure the Indomitable Lionesses have reached the semifinals of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in Morocco but it also means they have qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2019.

Right from the first minute of the game, the 22-year old custodian was tested by the Nigerian attack led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade but she established her presence strongly.

Bihina understood the assignment. Carrying the weight of her nation on her shoulders, she showed that as the last line of resistence, Nigeria would need a miracle to go past her.

Bihina. Bihina. Bihina.

Allez! Allez! Allez [Let’s go] Bihina! The enthusiastic Cameroonian fans in the stands kept chanting her name in a bid to show their support to her. Every time, she made a save, they cheered her on and clapped for her. But most importantly, they enjoyed her jaw-dropping performance on an evening when Cameroon was desperate to register a positive result.

This was the 14^th meeting between Cameroon and Nigeria at the WAFCON – the most played fixture at the continental showpiece. Cameroon had only won once before August 9, 2026. That win was thanks to a Gaelle Enganamouit goal that inspired the Indomitable Lionesses finish third at the WAFCON 2012 edition in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Bihina was eight years, 10 months and 15 days back then. A child.

Since then, Nigeria defeated Cameroon in back-to-back WAFCON finals in 2014 in Windhoek, Namibia and 2016 in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde. Cameroonians have never forgotten that loss at the fully packed Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in the capital.

At the WAFCON 2018, Nigeria edged Cameroon 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in the semifinals and four years later, an Ajibade lone goal was enough for Nigeria to claim the win in the quarterfinals. Cameroon did not qualify for the 2024 edition played last year.

For Bihina, who is featuring at the WAFCON for the very first time, it was about time Cameroon ended this jinx that had turned into a one-sided rivalry between the neighbours.

“I am so happy right now. This is a dream come true. Playing in my first WAFCON and being able to beat Nigeria and qualify for the World Cup is historic. I am so excited and happy that as a team we have achieved this. I’m very emotional right now,” she says with barely a voice left thanks to the celebrations after the game.

Shot stopper extraordinaire

Nine saves. A second clean sheet in four games. Only two goals conceded. This is the story of Bihina who plies her trade at Benfica in Portugal. Bihina admits that, “We had an objective going into this game – to change the history of our national team especially against Nigeria. I am happy. The team is happy. It is a great day for Cameroonian football.”

When her personal stats were projected on the stadium screen, fans and opponents alike gave her a standing ovation. It was the kind of performance that one must applaud in the spirit of fair play.

Away from the stands to the pitch, her former Benfica teammate and Nigerian midfielder Christy Onyenaturuchi Ucheibe who played her heart out in this matchup, walked up to her, hugged her and congratulated her. They exchanged jerseys. More applause from the fans.

“She praised me and said she was happy for me and that I deserve it. She is my dear friend. We have been at Benfica together and that means so much to me that she did that,” Bihina reveals exclusively to CAFOnline.

“For me personally, it has been a long journey of hard work and discipline. I continue to work with humility and try to improve every other day. I’m glad to be here playing for Cameroon.”

Born in Ekounou, Nkoldongo in Yaounde, Bihina started out as a striker and as she continued growing tall for her age, she switched to goalkeeping. “My coach told me that I was too tall to be a striker and that I would do better as a goalkeeper. I did that and six months later, I was summoned to the national team,” she remembers with a big grin on her face.

At 15, Bihina got her first test of Nigeria’s dominance when they defeated Cameroon in the final 3-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at the 2019 African Games. This stayed with her. She continued working on her craft that saw her join Portuguese second division side Racing Power. She helped them win the league title and gain promotion to the topflight division.

Her exploits attracted attention from the rest of the league but most importantly the league giants SL Benfica who successfully signed her on February 1 this year. She won the double adding the league and Portuguese Cup to her name.

Coming off this spectacular season with Benfica, Bihina has now added reaching the WAFCON 2026 last four with a chance to win the WAFCON for Cameroon for the very first time and World Cup qualification to her illustrious curriculum vitae.

N’Kono, Antoine Bell, Kameni, Onana, Bihina…

Reeling and in tears of joy, Bihina was lifted into the air by her teammates immediately center referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa blew the full time whistle. As she received the Woman of the Match Award, she could not believe it. So many emotions ran through her body. A moment of truth had come at the right place for her.

“It was a great day for me to show that Cameroon has good goalkeepers. It is an honour for me to be in the same sentence with these great Cameroonian goalkeepers who have represented our country over the years,” she says when asked about her nation’s goalkeeping legacy.

Bihina finds herself in the same sentence with Cameroonian greats like the iconic Thomas N’Kono and Joseph Antoine Bell who dominated global headlines when they won the AFCON in 1984 and 1988. A clean sheet against Diego Maradona’s Argentina in their opening match at the FIFA World Cup 1990 in Italy was the only introduction the world needed to know about Cameroon’s goalkeeping prowess.

The list is long – Jacques Songo’o, Carlos Kameni, Alioum Boukar, André Onana and his cousin Fabrice Ondoa. Cameroon has continuously produced world class goalkeepers and Bihina is keen to continue working hard to make her nation proud and to inspire other young Cameroonians – female and male to believe in themselves and to work hard.

The wall between the posts for Cameroon, Bihina, will now face yet another massive test when the Indomitable Lionesses take on the hosts and back-to-back WAFCON finalists Morocco on Wednesday at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat at 21h00.