Cameroon’s African Women’s Football Champions Reaffirm Their Commitment to Polio Eradication

YAOUNDÉ, 23 October 2026 – Players from Cameroon’s women’s national football team, crowned champions of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, reaffirmed their commitment to polio eradication during an event organized today by UNICEF in Yaoundé. On the eve of World Polio Day, the event brought together the players, young vaccination advocates and partners to highlight Cameroon’s progress in the fight against polio and underscore the importance of sustaining vaccination efforts.

The initiative also aims to strengthen families’ confidence in vaccination, encourage dialogue with communities, and promote youth participation so that no child is left behind.

Ange Gabrielle Bawou, Doudou Ousmanou and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguené joined the Team End Polio movement earlier this year and took part in the Kick Out Polio campaign during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. They are continuing the commitment initiated by Nchout Njoya Ajara, the first footballer to join the movement in April 2024, who notably contributed to international advocacy efforts for polio eradication.

Together, they are using their visibility and influence to support the fight against polio by raising public awareness and encouraging families to vaccinate their children. Through their close connection with young people and their influence on the general public, they can help dispel misconceptions, promote reliable information, and encourage parents to ensure their children complete the full vaccination schedule. As Cameroon has qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, football provides a new opportunity to rally support around this cause.

"Winning the Women’s AFCON with Cameroon was an immense source of pride. But beyond football, we also want to use our voices for the benefit of children. By raising awareness among families about the importance of vaccination, we can help protect more children in Cameroon and across Africa against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases," said Doudou Ousmanou.

Cameroon has not recorded any new cases of variant poliovirus since April 2025, thanks to the joint efforts of the Government, health workers, communities and partners to maintain high

vaccination coverage. However, the virus continues to circulate in neighbouring countries, posing a risk of new outbreaks, particularly among children who have not received all recommended vaccines.

It therefore remains essential to identify and reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, especially in hard-to-reach communities, while understanding and addressing social, behavioral and access-related barriers to vaccination services.

Under the leadership of the Government of Cameroon, UNICEF and its partners continue to support routine immunization, vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance to safeguard the gains achieved. These efforts are supported by Canada, Germany, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and Rotary International, alongside the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Complementing these efforts, public figures and young people play a vital role in mobilizing communities, engaging families and encouraging them to vaccinate their children. UNICEF also supports community engagement, listens to families’ concerns, mobilizes young people and influential leaders, and promotes the dissemination of reliable information to strengthen confidence in vaccination services and support informed decision-making.

"Sport has the power to inspire and mobilize far beyond the football field. We thank the players of Cameroon’s women’s national team for using their influence to promote vaccination and encourage families and communities to make it a priority. To end polio, we need this collective commitment, as well as sustained efforts to reach every child," said Nadine Perrault, UNICEF Representative in Cameroon.

UNICEF calls for continued mobilization to preserve the progress achieved in Cameroon and strengthen routine immunization services, so that every child, everywhere in the country, is protected against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.