Following the 5-0 win over Egypt in the first leg in Cairo last Sunday, the U17 Lionesses are expected to easily complete the round one qualification series against the North Africans during the return fixture in Bafoussam next weekend.
Cameroon’s U17 Lionesses have taken a giant leap towards the next round of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, after devouring their Egyptian counterparts 5-0 in the first leg of their first-round encounter at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo. The one-sided affair saw forward Ange Tazanou scoring a hat-trick, with goals in the 25th, 72nd, and 84th minutes, while Nkoussa Divine and Tiwa Lys added to the tally with strikes in the 28th and 45+3 minutes respectively.
This victory gives head coach Joseph Brian Ndoko’s team a significant advantage ahead of the second leg, scheduled to take place at the Kouekong Omnisport stadium in Bafoussam on Saturday January 18 where a win on aggregate would set up a second-round showdown with Ethiopia. The team’s performance in the second leg will be crucial in determining their fate, but for now, they can bask in the glory of their convincing win over Egypt. A win on aggregate would propel them to the next round, where they would face Ethiopia.
During the last edition of the world cup, the baby Lionesses failed to qualify after losing to Uganda in the second round, despite thrashing Sao Tomé and Principe 12-0 on aggregate in the first round. Since then, the team has undergone changes, with lead trainer Alian Djemfa being replaced by Joseph Ndoko Brain, who previously managed Elite Two team ISOHSA of Limbe during the 2023/2024 MTN Elite two championship campaign.
The 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8 with several adjustments made to the format. The number of participating teams has been increased from 16 to 24, and the tournament will be held annually instead of biennially. Additionally, a total of 28 African nations will compete for the four available spots that will join host Morocco at the global showpiece.
