Cameroon's junior and cadet national teams have triumphed at the IHF Challenge Trophy tournaments held in Douala until May 3, 2026. This double victory, achieved on home soil, reflects the efforts of the Cameroonian Handball Federation to revitalize the sport.
The awards ceremony, held at the Japoma multi-sports complex gymnasium, saw the young Cameroonians dominate the podiums in both age categories. In both the cadets (under 18) and juniors (under 20) categories, Cameroon won gold and a ticket to the continental competitions, qualifying stages for the next world tournament.
The Cameroonians' performance impressed their opponents. Jean-Brice Aguessy, coach of the Central African Republic's junior team, acknowledged Cameroon's superiority after their 15-23 defeat: "Congratulations to our brothers from Cameroon for a match that allowed me to learn a lot... Cameroon was a cut above us".
The Cameroonian juniors' objective was clear from the start of the tournament: victory at home to gain access to the continental tournament. "Our objective before starting this tournament was to win it since we are at home. Winning to have one more competition. The victory gave us the opportunity to participate in the continental tournament. It was an opportunity for the children to rub shoulders with handball players from other backgrounds," explained coach Jackson Foku. His team achieved a perfect record, winning all four of their matches.
The cadets also shone, winning all their matches in a cup format. Set up just two months ago, this group managed to retain the trophy won in 2024 by beating a Congolese team in the final.
The President of the Cameroonian Handball Federation, Abba Oumaté, expressed his satisfaction with this double victory, the result of long-term work. "This is one of the few times that Cameroon has reached this level in youth. This bodes well for something quite exceptional for Cameroonian handball. This is the rebirth of men's handball. We have been preparing it for years," he said. He hopes that these young talents will be able to qualify for the intercontinental phase.
These victories come as Cameroon aims to develop handball, as evidenced by the organization of the IHF Challenge Trophy in Douala.
