By Angu Lesley
Cameroon’s journey at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end on Sunday after a narrow 1-0 defeat to hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals in Rabat.
Mohamed Zinbi scored the only goal of the match in the 17th minute to send the young Atlas Lions into the semi-finals in front of their home supporters at the Mohammed VI Sports Complex (Pitch 8).
The Young Indomitable Lions struggled to recover after the early setback despite showing resilience and defensive discipline for large parts of the encounter. Coach Alioum Saidou made several tactical adjustments during the game as Cameroon searched for an equaliser, but Morocco remained compact and organised defensively to protect their advantage until the final whistle.
Cameroon entered the knockout stage with confidence following a promising group-stage campaign that included a goalless draw against Senegal and a crucial victory over DR Congo. Their performances throughout the competition secured qualification for the upcoming FIFA U17 World Cup, which remains one of the major positives from the tournament.
Several young Cameroonian players enhanced their reputations during the competition, including midfielder George Essingila Mbinde, who was named man of the match in the victory against DR Congo, as well as goalkeeper Junior Noukeu, whose performances played a key role in Cameroon’s run to the quarter-finals.
Although eliminated, the tournament offered encouraging signs for the future of Cameroonian football, with Alioum Saidou expected to continue working with the core of this talented generation ahead of the World Cup later this year.
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