CAF U-17 AFCON UNIFFAC Qualifiers: Cameroon’s Dominance, DR Congo’s Strength & Gabon’s Struggle

The road to the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is heating up in the UNIFFAC (Central African) regional qualifiers, where only two teams will punch their tickets to the continental tournament.

The action has been fast and furious in Douala, Cameroon, with the host nation sending a clear message of intent.

Cameroon’s Ruthless Display Against the Central African Republic

Cameroon wasted no time in stamping its authority on the tournament, demolishing the Central African Republic (CAR) 9-0 in the opening match on Sunday, 16 February. The young Indomitable Lions played with flair and efficiency, showcasing their offensive firepower in what can only be described as a statement performance.

One of the stars of the show was Franck Mafany Luma, who bagged a stunning hat-trick (2nd, 4th, 35th). Abraham Njanja Kolly (7th, 20th) and Noel Doumbogo (13th, 64th) each scored a brace, while Etoundi Eyen rounded off the scoring just before halftime.

Despite the convincing win, Cameroon’s head coach expressed a level of dissatisfaction, citing moments of technical errors, lapses in concentration, and missed execution of tactical instructions. He emphasized the importance of sticking to the game strategy and staying disciplined, especially with tougher challenges ahead.

🎙️ Post-Match, the Cameroonian coach reflected on the game:

“C’est vrai qu’il y a eu des moments où on devait être calme, on a perdu beaucoup de ballons. Au niveau de la défense, j’étais satisfait sauf qu’au départ, il y avait eu un moment de flottement où un défenseur a eu un carton jaune. Il fallait le recadrer pour qu’il puisse rester concentré.”

Translation:

“There were moments when we needed to stay calm, but we lost too many balls. Defensively, I was satisfied except for an early moment of instability where one defender got a yellow card. I had to refocus him so he could stay in the game.”

Despite the minor concerns, Cameroon dominated from start to finish, sending a strong warning to their UNIFFAC rivals.

DR Congo Proves Its Strength Against Gabon

In the second match of the opening day, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) secured an impressive 3-1 win over Gabon. The standout player was Wazafa Titi, who single-handedly took control of the game with a fantastic hat-trick (13th, 73rd, 90+2), earning him the Man of the Match award.

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Gabon’s only goal came from Noguy Nlemadielemmane in first-half stoppage time (45+2), but it was not enough to stop DR Congo from taking all three points.

Standings After Matchday 1:

1️⃣ Cameroon – 3 points (+9 GD)

2️⃣ DR Congo – 3 points (+2 GD)

3️⃣ Gabon – 0 points (-2 GD)

4️⃣ Central African Republic – 0 points (-9 GD)

With just one qualification slot guaranteed and another spot up for grabs, the race to Morocco 2025 remains wide open.

Cameroon vs. Gabon – Pre-Match Mindset

Going into Matchday 2, the Cameroonian coach remained cautious despite Gabon’s previous loss:

“Ce ne sera pas un adversaire facile. Ils ont perdu leur premier match, donc ils voudront réagir. On va essayer de donner aux enfants des orientations pour aborder ce match avec sérénité, mais on sait que c’est celui qui peut nous qualifier.”

Translation:

“It won’t be an easy game. Gabon lost their first match, so they’ll want to respond. We’ll guide our boys to approach the match calmly, but we know this is the game that can secure our qualification.”

With that focused mindset, Cameroon once again delivered an attacking masterclass, dismantling Gabon 7-1 to seal their place at CAF U-17 AFCON Morocco 2025!

Matchday 2 Recap – Cameroon Crushes Gabon

Cameroon continued its rampant form on Matchday 2, thrashing Gabon 7-1 in yet another dominant display. The result all but secures their spot at CAF U-17 AFCON 2025, while Gabon’s qualification hopes are hanging by a thread.

Meanwhile, the Central African Republic (CAR) and DR Congo are set to battle it out, with CAR fighting for survival.

The Road Ahead – Who Will Make It to Morocco?

The UNIFFAC qualifiers follow a round-robin format, meaning every game is crucial. The top two teams will advance to the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, where:

✅ The UNIFFAC champion will be placed in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Egypt.

✅ The runner-up will join Group D with Mali, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire.

With Cameroon vs. DR Congo set for Matchday 3, all eyes will be on whether DR Congo can stop Cameroon’s unstoppable attack or if the host nation will cruise to the title in style.

Final Thoughts

Final Clash: Cameroon vs. DR Congo – Battle for the Crown!

With both teams qualified, the final showdown between Cameroon and DR Congo will determine the UNIFFAC champion!

Will Cameroon complete a perfect campaign and send a chilling message to the rest of Africa? Or will DR Congo spoil the party? One thing’s for sure – this final clash will be 🔥!

The tournament has already provided thrilling action, stunning goals, and breakout stars. Can Cameroon maintain its ruthless streak, or will DR Congo spoil the party? Will Gabon and CAR pull off a surprise and keep their qualification hopes alive?

Stay tuned to CitySports NG for all the latest updates, match previews, and analysis from the CAF U-17 AFCON UNIFFAC Qualifiers! 🚀⚽🔥