Cameroon’s U23 Lions to Test Strength Against La Liga Sides

By Eyong Macdella

Journalist,kick442.com-Cameroon

Cameroon’s U23 Lions are set for a crucial international break, with two high-profile friendly matches scheduled against the youth teams of Deportivo Alavés and Athletic Bilbao during an eight-day training camp in Spain.

The camp will take place from March 23 to 31, 2026, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, as head coach Guy Feutchine fine-tunes his squad ahead of the upcoming U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Cameroon’s U23 side has not featured in a competitive fixture since March 28, 2023, when they faced Gabon U23 in the final round of qualifiers for the 2023 U23 AFCON. Despite securing a 1-0 home victory, the Young Lions were eliminated after a 7-6 penalty shootout defeat, following a 1-1 aggregate score.

Coach Feutchine unveiled a preliminary 30-man squad over the weekend, composed entirely of players based outside Africa. The list includes three goalkeepers, 11 defenders, eight midfielders, and eight forwards — a clear indication of his focus on foreign-based talent.

Notable inclusions in midfield include Collins Fi Akamba of Aris Limassol, while Stéphane Noubissie of Lille OSC and Bryan Song — son of Cameroon legend Rigobert Song — feature in defense, the latter playing for FC Metz.

In attack, Harouna Djibirin of Angers SCO and the in-form Nguene Benard of Standard Liège are among the standout forwards selected.

The squad also features three promising dual-nationality prospects — William Gueke, Jayden Ngwashi, and Ndoka Nkoto — who have switched their international allegiance from England to represent Cameroon at U23 level.

However, the squad announcement has sparked debate among observers, as no player from the domestic league was included. Coach Feutchine’s decision to rely entirely on foreign-based players — predominantly from Europe — contrasts sharply with the approach of David Pagou, whose recent selections for the senior national team have incorporated several home-based talents.

The upcoming friendlies in Spain will offer the Young Lions a valuable opportunity to build cohesion and assess their level against top European opposition as they prepare for competitive action later this year.