By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Cameroon’s U-17 football team delivered a resounding statement on Sunday, February 16, at the Réunification Stadium annex in Douala, thrashing the Central African Republic (CAR) 9-0 in the opening match of the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) tournament.
The host nation showcased their skills, with striker Franck Mafany Luma leading the charge. Luma netted a hat-trick, scoring twice within the first four minutes and completing his treble by the 35th minute.
His teammates also shone brightly, with Abraham Njanja Kolly and Noel Doumbogo each contributing two goals. Kolly struck in the 7th and 20th minutes, while Doumbogo found the net in the 13th and 64th minutes. The scoring frenzy concluded with Etoundi Eyen’s goal just before halftime (45+1).
As the second half progressed, Cameroon continued to assert its dominance. At the 85th minutes, Merlin Yimga Nkoutah sealed the win with a much needed goal.
During the Post match press conference, controversy erupted when Dertin Boulengue, coach of CAR, accused Cameroon of age fraud during. This allegation ignited a heated discussion, with Gabon’s coach, Jean Joseph Ngoma, suggesting that such issues should be handled by medical professionals rather than fellow coaches.
In the day’s second match, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Gabon. Wazafa Titi was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick with goals at the 13th, 73rd, and 90+2 minutes, earning him the man of the match accolade. Gabon’s sole goal came from Noguy Nlemadielemmane during first-half stoppage time (45+2).
Following the first day of competition, Cameroon tops the standings with 3 points and a remarkable goal difference of +9. The DRC closely follows, also with 3 points but a goal difference of +2. Gabon sits in third place, while the Central African Republic languishes at the bottom of the table, yet to secure any points and facing a daunting goal difference of -9.
Looking ahead, Gabon will seek a crucial result against the hosts on Wednesday, February 19, to keep their qualification hopes alive, while the Central African Republic faces a must-win clash against the DRC to avoid elimination.
The third matchday will take place on February 22, featuring matchups between CAR and Gabon, as well as Cameroon and the DRC.
This championship aims to determine the two representatives from UNIFFAC for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 30 to April 19, 2025.
The UNIFFAC champion will compete in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Egypt, while the runner-up will be placed in Group D with Mali, Angola, and Ivory Coast.
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