2026 U17 AFCON: Cadet Lions drawn in difficult group B

The draw for the 2026 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations has placed Cameroon in a Group B alongside rivals the Ivory Coast, Uganda and the DRC.  Cameroon’s journey to this 16th edition of the tournament has been defined by efficiency.

The Cadet Lions path to Morocco was paved during the UNIFFAC qualifying tournament held in Kinshasa earlier this year. Under immense pressure to secure one of the two slots available for the Central Zone, they delivered a masterclass in consistency. Cameroon opened their campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over Gabon, a result that established them as the immediate favorites. Following a steady 2-0 win against the Central African Republic, Cameroon faced the hosts, DR Congo, in a decisive finale. Goals from Rony Balang and Arnold Massekon secured a 2-0 victory, ensuring Cameroon retained their UNIFFAC title and entered the continental stage as a top-seeded threat.

Cameroon is one of the elite few nations to have won the U-17 AFCON twice, with their first triumph coming in 2003 in Swaziland and their most recent success in 2019 in Tanzania. However, their history is also marked by unpredictability; while they have scaled the heights of the continent, they have also faced humbling group-stage exits in 2015 and 2023. This “all-or-nothing” legacy serves as both a warning and a motivation for the current squad as they look to add a third star to their crest.

Looking ahead to the tournament start on May 13, the stakes have never been higher for the boys of Saidou Alioum. Beyond the allure of the trophy, the expanded 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar looms large. With ten qualification spots available to African nations, the cadet Lions are well-positioned to return to the global stage.

               Full pairing

Group A
Morocco
Tunisia
Egypt
Ethiopia

Group B
Ivory Coast
Cameroon
Uganda
DR Congo

Group C
Mali
Angola
Tanzania
Mozambique

Group D
Senegal
South Africa
Algeria
Ghana