The 2026 Easter Cup Patricia Berthelot kicked off with a few surprises, including a defeat for the host team and favorite, EFBC (Élites du Football Boissons du Cameroun), against Gazelle de Garoua. Coach Oben's team lost 2-0 in the match that took place on Monday, April 13, at the Reunification Stadium in Douala.
This defeat puts Gazelle de Garoua at the top of Group C, while EFBC will have to recover quickly to qualify for the rest of the tournament. APEJES de Mfou is currently second in this group, having been exempt from this first day.
In the other matches of the day, Aigle de la Menoua narrowly defeated Academy Foot Douala, with a 1-0 victory in Group B. ANAFOOT will enter the competition on Tuesday. In Group A, Kadji Sport Academy (KSA) took the lead thanks to its 3-0 victory over Colombe du Dja et Lobo. KSA's Tunisian coach, Ramzi Chouchane, announced before the tournament that his team was ready and had learned from the previous year.
Dauphine Academy also delivered a notable performance, winning 4-1 against PWD de Bamenda. The Easter Cup, nicknamed the "Youth Champions League", continues on Tuesday, April 14, with the following program:
10:30 AM: Kadji Sports Academy – Léopard de Bertoua 12:00 PM: Daphne Academy – Best Stars de Limbe 1:30 PM: Academy Foot Douala – ANAFOOT 3:00 PM: EFBC – APEJES de Mfou
In other news, EFBC's young midfielder, David Mimbang, is preparing to join AS Saint-Étienne in France. Jacques Elimbi, president of EFBC, announced that Mimbang would not participate in the Easter Cup due to his imminent departure for France, where he will begin an adaptation phase before officially signing his contract. Mimbang, considered one of the most promising players of his generation, was also courted by Chelsea, Lens, and RC Strasbourg. His transfer represents a great opportunity for the young player to pursue his career at a high level. The Easter Cup is an important showcase for young talents from EFBC, such as Carlos Baleba, Régis Mughe, and Fi Akamba, who were all transferred abroad after being revealed in this tournament.
