Cameroon's U17 Lions have won the UNIFFAC Tournament 2026, defeating DR Congo 2-0 in the final. This victory allows the young Cameroonians to retain their sub-regional title and qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
The final was played at the Tata Raphaël Stadium in Kinshasa, where goals from Rony Baliag and Arnold Bassekon secured the victory for Alioum Saidou's squad. The Young Lions' journey in this tournament was flawless, with three wins in as many matches. They first crushed Gabon 7-1, then defeated CAR 2-0 before finishing strongly against DR Congo.
In addition to the title, this performance allows Cameroon to validate its ticket for the U17 AFCON 2026 in Morocco. Cameroon thus confirms its dominance in the sub-region by retaining the title acquired in 2025 on the same Congolese soil. DR Congo will also accompany Cameroon to the next Africa Cup of Nations for Under-17s.
The UNIFFAC tournament, which took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo from February 17 to March 1, 2026, serves as qualifications for the U17 AFCON. However, the opening match between DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea was canceled due to the ineligibility of six players from Equatorial Guinea following MRI tests.
The U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 will take place in Morocco. The top ten teams from this tournament will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 in Qatar.
