Cameroon’s football heroines were fêted with great pomp on Saturday, 22 August 2026, when the Indomitable Lionesses, newly crowned champions of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, were received at Unity Palace at the invitation of President Paul BIYA and First Lady Chantal BIYA.
The centrepiece of the reception was an address by the Head of State, who warmly welcomed the players and coaching staff and paid tribute to the discipline, courage and collective spirit they displayed throughout the CAF tournament in Morocco.
President Paul BIYA described the Lionesses’ triumph as a moment of profound national pride that had stirred the aspirations of the country’s youth and brought Cameroonians together, regardless of region or generation, in shared celebration.
He reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s football and urged the squad to uphold the nation’s honour with equal distinction at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
In a particularly solemn moment, the players and technical staff, led by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education and the President of FECAFOOT, advanced to exchange greetings with the Presidential Couple. Each player received the insignia of Knight of the Order of Valour in recognition of her exemplary service to the nation.
Dignitaries, sports officials and an enthusiastic gathering of guests offered sustained applause throughout the proceedings, which concluded fittingly with a formal photograph in front of the stately façade of Unity Palace.
