By Awambeng Fuh
Guest Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon’s Under-20 men’s national team, the Junior Lions, have been disqualified from the 2025 International Academies Cup in Trinidad and Tobago after delays in confirming participation, despite earlier assurances from the country’s football authorities, according to sources close to the organisers.
The tournament took place from 12 to 14 December, but the Junior Lions were withdrawn before the opening fixtures after organisers ruled that confirmation procedures had not been completed within the required timeframe.
The decision came as a major setback for the Under-20 Lions, who had spent more than three weeks in camp preparing specifically for the competition. The Junior Lions played several friendly matches during that period, with the tournament expected to provide vital international exposure and competitive assessment for the young squad.
This is not the first time a Cameroon team has gone into prolonged camp only to miss out on a tournament due to administrative or logistical challenges. Similar situations have been recorded in the past, raising recurring concerns over planning and execution around the country’s national teams.
Some sources suggest the latest setback may be linked to disagreements over logistics. It is alleged that organisers requested participating teams to cover certain costs, including air tickets or specific operational expenses, and that these requirements were not fully met in time. Other accounts maintain that FECAFOOT had confirmed Cameroon’s participation as early as November but did not conclude all requested arrangements before deadlines expired.
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has so far not issued an official explanation regarding the disqualification of the Under-20 Lions.
For the Junior Lions, the outcome is a bitter one, with weeks of preparation yielding no competitive match action and another missed opportunity to test the next generation of Cameroonian talent on the international stage.
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