Cameroon has qualified for the second round of the qualifiers to the 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Under-17 Lionesses bagged the ticket after securing a 1-0 win over Egypt at the Kouekong Omnisport Stadium in Bafoussam last Saturday, January 18.
The Lionesses registered the victory thanks to a third minute goal from Éclair Football Filles attacker, Divine Ntsongo Nkoussa.
The 1-0 victory on Saturday completed a 6-0 aggregate win for Cameroon over the North African team across two legs of matches in the qualifiers. The Lionesses had overpowered the Egyptians 5-0 away in Cairo last Sunday during the first leg.
“We’re disappointed. We are Egypt, and we came here to win! We made a mistake in the first match and aimed for victory, but we couldn’t achieve it,” stated Mostafa Mohamed Mounir, head coach of the U17 Egyptian team.
The lead trainer of the U17 Lionesses team, Joseph Brian Ndoko mistakes made by his players in the game hindered their ability to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. “We started well. But there were several missed chances,” the former Indomitable Lionesses trainer noted.
Cameroon will face Ethiopia in a two-legged series in March in the second round of the qualifiers.
The Lionesses will take on the Ethiopians hoping to continue banking on the services of forwards Tiwa Fraiche and Ange Tazanou.
Bansoa Sports Academy sensation, Tazanou scored a hat-trick and provided an assist during the Lionesses 5-0 first leg win over Egypt. Tiwa Fraiche scored once during the game in Cairo.
Although the two were not able to score during the return leg in Bafoussam, the duo is still considered as Cameroon’s most dangerous weapons in the current qualification tournament.
The 2025 Under-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Morocco between October and November this year.
The tournament will feature a total of 24 teams, including five from the African continent.
Four of Africa’s five representatives will qualify through the ongoing qualification series which will round up in April with the third and final round.
Cameroon made its debut in the U17 Women’s World Cup in 2016 and returned again in 2018. But the nation missed out in the 2022 and 2024 editions after failing to qualify.
Che Tembuck
