Cameroon’s young “Indomitable Lions” have successfully defended their regional dominance, clinching the 2026 UNIFFAC U17 title after a commanding 2–0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the tournament finale.
The victory, secured on February 27 at the Tata Raphaël Stadium, ensures that both Cameroon and the host nation, DRC, will represent Central Africa at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Cameroon’s path to the trophy was defined by early pressure and defensive discipline. Rony Balang opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by a second-half strike from Arnold Massekon in the 49th minute that effectively silenced the home crowd. This win marks a back-to-back regional triumph for Cameroon, who also held the title from the previous edition. Despite the loss, the DRC’s second-place finish was enough to secure their ticket to the continental finals.
Earlier on the final day, Gabon secured a 3–0 win over the Central African Republic to claim the third-place spot. Goals from Noguy Nlemadielane, Basile Marvin, and Destiné Nyambi highlighted a strong finish for the “Panthers.” While Gabon missed out on AFCON qualification, their performance placed them ahead of the Central African Republic in the final standings.
Individual honors went to Congolese forward Delpierrot Lithofe Ntali, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. The competition, organized by the Union of Central African Football Federations, was notable for its intensity despite the last-minute withdrawal of the Republic of Congo and the disqualification of Equatorial Guinea due to age fraud issues. With the regional qualifiers now concluded, the focus shifts to the continental stage where Cameroon will look to add a third AFCON title to their trophy cabinet.
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