Michaely Bihina has become the toast of Cameroon after her heroics at the 2026 Wafcon. Her performances helped the Indomitable Lionesses reach the final for the first time since 2016, and she has been called a player‑of‑the‑match in games against Nigeria and Morocco. In the semi‑final, she saved four penalties, one in extra time and three in the shootout, to secure a 3‑1 win and a place at the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup. Bihina’s nine saves against Nigeria set a record for the most in a single match at the finals, and her clean sheets in five games underline her impact.

Bihina celebrated the historic win with the CAF, noting that it was “a great day for Cameroonian football” and that the team’s objective was to change the history against Nigeria. The Lionesses now face debutants Malawi in the final. Bihina, who studied Morocco’s penalty takers throughout the tournament, was praised as a contender for the tournament’s player of the year alongside Malawi’s Chawinga sisters.

Her rise has sparked calls for a statue in her honour, and her story is already inspiring a new generation of Cameroonian footballers. Supporters in the capital are organising fundraisers to commemorate her achievements, and the goalkeeper’s calmness under pressure and tactical awareness have drawn comparisons to some of Africa’s best keepers.