By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon’s U17 national team has officially left for the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the delegation departing from Douala International Airport early Sunday morning, May 3, aboard a flight to Casablanca.
Led by head coach Alioum Saidou and his technical staff, the delegation departed at 5:45 AM and is expected to arrive at Casablanca International Airport around 11:00 AM before heading to Rabat, where preparations will continue ahead of the continental tournament scheduled to begin on May 13.
Fresh from successfully defending their UNIFFAC U17 title earlier this year, the Young Lions travel to Morocco carrying both confidence and responsibility. Cameroon booked its place at the competition after emerging champions of the UNIFFAC zonal qualifiers, once again proving their dominance in Central African youth football.
Captain Chris Karel and his teammates are fully aware of the challenge ahead as they prepare to represent the nation on one of Africa’s biggest youth football stages. The squad has called on all Cameroonians for prayers and support as they seek to fly the national flag high in Morocco.
Cameroon has been drawn into a competitive Group B alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and DR Congo. The Young Lions will open their campaign against Uganda in a key first fixture that could shape the rest of their tournament. A positive result in the opener would give Alioum Saidou’s boys an important boost in their quest for qualification.
The second group match will see Cameroon renew their rivalry with DR Congo in a familiar Central African derby. The two teams already faced each other during the UNIFFAC qualifiers, where Cameroon came out on top en route to lifting the regional trophy. DR Congo will undoubtedly be eager for revenge, making the encounter one of the most anticipated in the group.
Cameroon will conclude their group stage campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in what could prove to be the decisive fixture for qualification. Depending on earlier results, the final group match may determine which teams advance to the knockout rounds.
The stakes in Morocco are enormous. The top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals and, most importantly, secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup. For Cameroon, the objective is clear: finish among the group’s top two sides and book a place on the global stage while continuing the chase for continental glory.
With preparations now entering the final phase in Rabat, all eyes will be on Alioum Saidou and his promising squad as Cameroon begins another important youth football journey with both AFCON success and World Cup qualification in sight.
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