U17 AFCON: Lions to face Cote d’Ivoire in group opener today.

The U17 Lions will be hoping to make a winning start in the youth competitions organized by the Confederation of African Football, CAF for players under the age of 17.

The team has been training in Morocco since their arrival on May 3. They played two friendlies to oil their muscles with contrasting results. 

They lost in their first friendly against Tanzania 3-1 but boosted their morale with a 3-1 win against Mozambique.

A win for the U17 Lions will significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since 2019.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, the head coach of the U17 national team, Alioum Saidou, said the team is fired up ahead of the first game today. 

He said the competition marks a major milestone for the players who are determined to honourably represent the country at the tournament and secure a third trophy.

"Like all young soccer players, they dream of competing in this kind of tournament. Many children would love to be in their shoes today. They have the chance to represent Cameroon. They are privileged, and we try to help them understand that,” coach Saidou said.

He added that: “Participating in this tournament is an important step in their careers. With the exposure the internet offers today, this competition could also lead to a World Cup or other opportunities. All young players dream of participating in this type of tournament to continue progressing until they reach the senior national team”.

Despite the need to give these players, considered as the country’s national pride, exposure on the continental and global scene, the gaffer stressed on the need to “protect them”. 

“These kids are sometimes influenced very early in their careers, particularly by certain agents or by the outside environment. So, we try to provide them with proper guidance to minimize risks and help them succeed in their careers,” he said.

Cameroon U17 Lions is taking part in the U17 tournament for the ninth time and a fifth time in a row but have also gone past the group stages once in four attempts.

The two-time winners of the tournament in 2003 and 2019 are looking forward to reclaiming the coveted title at the end of the 2016 edition.

After their group opener against Cote D’Ivoire, the team is scheduled to face Uganda in their penultimate group fixture on May 16 before wrapping up the group phase against the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC three days later.

It should be recalled that the 2026 U17 AFCON kicked off yesterday in Morocco. The tournament will run from May 13 to June 12. The 16-team tournament serves as qualifiers for the 2026 U17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The top 10 teams from the tournament will qualify for the global showpiece to take place in November

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3788 of Wednesday May 13, 2026