Cameroon head coach David Pagou has underlined his belief that the future of the Indomitable Lions lies in the hands of the team’s emerging young talents following their progression to the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Pagou’s comments come after 19-year-old Christian Kofane scored the decisive goal as Cameroon came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Mozambique on Wednesday in their final group-stage encounter.
Speaking in a televised interview on beIN SPORTS, the Cameroonian coach reflected on his side’s performance, admitting they could have been more clinical.
“Our goal was to win, and we could have scored more goals. We created many opportunities, but unfortunately, we lacked focus in the final touch,” Pagou said.
Despite the missed chances, he stressed that qualification was the primary objective.
“In the end, we qualified for the round of 16, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he noted, before turning his attention to the role of the younger players in the squad.
“The young players are the future of Cameroonian football, and the future is still ahead of them. They have a lot of skills,” Pagou added.
He emphasized the importance of helping them settle quickly into the national team setup, explaining that continued support would allow them to reach their full potential.
“They just need to adapt quickly to the national team so that they can perform at their best, as they have shown so far, and we will continue to support, appreciate and accompany them, as this is our goal at this stage.”
Cameroon will now shift focus to their Round of 16 clash against South Africa as they aim to build on their group-stage progress and push deeper into the tournament.
