Sports

Cameroon beats CAR to clinch UNIFFAC cup.

by Guest writer
27 Oct 2026 14:59
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Cameroon has won the 2026 edition of the Under20 UNIFFAC Tournament organised by the Central African Football Federations’ Union.
Cameroon claimed the trophy after defeating the Central African Republic 1-0 in the final of the youth championship which served as Central Africa’s zonal qualifiers for the 2027 Under20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match was played at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde with both Cameroon and the Central African Republic facing off after having already secured their qualification tickets to next year’s continental showpiece set for Ghana.

The match was attended by football stakeholders from across Central Africa.

Among the officials was the Central African Republic’s minister of sports, Rodolphe Doneng-Wanzoumon and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o Fils who also doubles as member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football.

It was also attended by the executive director of UNIFFAC, Hassan Bala Korei and global football icon, Albert Roger Milla.

Midfielder, Popess Manguele scored the lone goal of the match to hand the Under20 Lions the victory.

The Coton Sport of Garoua youngster fired in from freekick deep into the fixture.

The victory had Cameroon completing its comfortable run in the six-nation tournament.

The team result meant the team ended its campaign in the competition with a record of four victories in four matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once.

The win in the final match most importantly handed Cameroon its first winner’s trophy in the UNIFFAC cup competition in six years.

The U20 Lions last claimed the trophy six years ago when they defeated the Central African Republic 3-1 in the final of the 2020 edition.

Cameroon and the Central African Republic will represent the Central African zone in the 2027 Under20 Africa Cup of Nations which will be organized by west African nation Ghana mid next year.

The two teams secured the qualification tickets after reaching the finals of 2026 UNIFFAC.

Cameroon last participated in the U20 AFCON in 2021. The country missed out on the 2023 and 2025 series of the competition after failing to impress at the 2022 and 2024 editions of the UNIFFAC cup.

It confirmed its spot in the 2027 tournament after coming from a goal down to defeat Gabon 4-1 last week in the just-concluded UNIFFAC cup.

By Naomi Nkfunchang, Journalism student

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3951 of Monday October 26, 2026