By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Cameroon’s youngest Lions have ended a painful wait. The U-20 squad won the 2026 UNIFFAC tournament, staged in Cameroon from October 15 to 24, and the title brings a return to the continental stage after two editions on the sidelines.
A single strike settles the final
In front of a home crowd in Yaoundé, Cameroon edged the Central African Republic 1-0 in the decider. Jean François Manguele made the difference in the 19th minute, curling home a free kick that proved to be the only goal of the afternoon.
The visitors thought they had levelled just before the half-hour mark, in the 36th minute, but the referee ruled the effort out. Cameroon then defended their advantage until the final whistle.
The result was also a repeat of an earlier meeting. The two sides had already faced each other in the group stage on October 18, when the hosts won 2-0.
A flawless campaign
Cameroon were consistent throughout, winning all four of their matches. They scored ten goals and conceded just one. Samuel Achu led the attack with five goals, making him the squad’s standout performer.
Redemption for a team with a point to prove
For coach Yvan Kenmoe and his players, the trophy carries extra meaning. Cameroon had not featured at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations since the 2021 edition in Mauritania, where they went out in the quarter-finals. Qualification then slipped away twice.
In the run-up to the 2023 tournament in Egypt, a 1-0 loss to the Central African Republic ended their hopes. For the 2025 edition, they topped their group in Brazzaville but were beaten by DR Congo on penalties in the semi-final after a 1-1 draw.
The Central African Republic, for their part, will still be heading to Ghana, where they will appear at the U-20 AFCON for the fourth edition in a row.
What awaits in Ghana
The 2027 tournament will feature twelve teams, and Ghana will host it for only the second time, after 1999. The four semi-finalists will earn places at the 2027 U-20 World Cup, jointly hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Ten teams have already secured their places:
- Ghana (hosts) and Burkina Faso (WAFU Zone B)
- Morocco and Egypt (UNAF)
- Cameroon and the Central African Republic (UNIFFAC)
- Sudan and Tanzania (CECAFA)
- South Africa and Mozambique (COSAFA)
The last two berths will be decided within WAFU Zone A, where Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Mauritania are still in contention.
