Yaoundé, 14 August 2026 — As Cameroon celebrates the extraordinary journey of the Indomitable Lionesses, who transformed an unexpected opportunity into a place in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Greenpeace Africa believes their remarkable story carries a powerful lesson beyond football.

Just as the Lionesses seized a second chance and inspired an entire nation, Ebo Forest also deserves a second chance.

The Ebo forest is rich in primates, featuring four nocturnal species (Galagoides thomasi, Arctocebus calabarensis, Sciurocheirus alleni, and Perodicticus edwardsi) and ten diurnal species, including two African great apes (Gorilla gorilla spp. and Pan troglodytes ellioti), one drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus leucophaeus), one mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus), one colobus (Piliocolobus preussi), and five guenons (Allochrocebus preussi, Cercopithecus nictitans, C. mona, C. erythrotis, and C. pogonias). The Black and White monkey (Colobus guereza) is nowadays considered locally extirpated, and five other species are becoming rare or very rare.

Home to exceptional biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth and the ancestral homeland of the Banen people, Ebo remains under continued pressure from industrial logging despite its immense ecological, cultural and global importance. For Greenpeace Africa, the determination shown by the Lionesses reflects the resilience of the communities who have spent decades defending one of Cameroon’s most valuable forests.

“The Lionesses have reminded every Cameroonian that setbacks do not define our future. They believed in themselves, they persevered, and today they have inspired an entire nation. Ebo Forest deserves that same opportunity. We still have the chance to choose protection over destruction and to leave future generations a forest they can be proud of.” declared Richard Ndi,  Forest & Biodiversity CampaignerGreenpeace Africa

Stretching across approximately 140,000 hectares in Cameroon’s Littoral Region, Ebo Forest shelters globally threatened wildlife including gorillas, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees, drills and numerous endemic species. Beyond its extraordinary biodiversity, it is also the ancestral home of the Banen communities, whose culture, identity and livelihoods remain inseparable from the forest. Despite repeated public concern, logging concessions continue to threaten this globally significant ecosystem.

For Banen traditional leaders, the future of Ebo is by far more than protecting trees.

“For the Banen people, Ebo is not just a forest. It is our history, our cultural identity, and a sacred heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors. Just as the Lionesses never gave up on their dream, we will never give up on protecting this forest. We remain hopeful that Cameroon will choose the path of courage by granting Ebo the lasting protection it deserves.” declared His Majesty Victor Yetina , traditional Leader of the Banen People

Greenpeace Africa stresses that protecting Ebo is not incompatible with development. On the contrary, safeguarding one of the Gulf of Guinea’s richest forests strengthens Cameroon’s commitments to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and community-centred development while protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

“Great nations are distinguished not only by their sporting victories, but also by the decisions they make to protect their natural heritage. While we applaud the Lionesses for bringing glory to Cameroon, we also call on our leaders to take another historic step: giving the Ebo Forest a second chance by cancelling the permits granted to Greenfield SA, an agri-industrial palm oil company in Cameroon. By protecting Ebo today, Cameroon will protect its natural heritage, its communities, and its future.” concluded Richard Ndi.

As the nation rallies behind the Indomitable Lionesses ahead of the WAFCON final, Greenpeace Africa extends its heartfelt congratulations to the team for their extraordinary achievement.

May their courage, determination and resilience continue to inspire Cameroon on and off the pitch.

And just as the Lionesses proved that a second chance can change history, Greenpeace Africa calls on the Government of Cameroon to seize this historic opportunity to secure lasting protection for Ebo Forest—for nature, for communities and for generations to come.

**ENDS**

Contact:

Raphael Mavambu, Communication & Storytelling Manager, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa