Cameroon women’s national under-20 football team and Benin women’s national under-20 football team secured their places in the fourth round of qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 after completing their third-round ties on Thursday.
Cameroon advanced despite losing the return leg 1-0 away to Botswana women’s national under-20 football team in Francistown.
The Indomitable Lionesses had built a commanding advantage with a 5-0 first-leg victory, leaving Botswana with a difficult task in the second meeting.
While the hosts managed to claim a narrow win, Cameroon’s aggregate score of 5-1 ensured progression to the next phase of the qualifiers.
The result underlined the importance of Cameroon’s dominant first-leg performance, which ultimately proved decisive.
Their ability to protect a sizeable aggregate lead allowed them to absorb pressure in the return match and maintain control of the tie overall.
Elsewhere, Benin confirmed their superiority over Egypt women’s national under-20 football team with a comprehensive 4-0 win in the second leg.
Having already secured a 1-0 away victory in Cairo, the U20 Amazons entered the home fixture in a strong position.
They extended that advantage at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, producing a performance that removed any doubt about qualification.
Across both legs, Benin controlled the contest, translating their early lead into a convincing aggregate margin that carried them into the fourth and final qualifying round.
Their consistency over the two matches demonstrated both attacking efficiency and defensive discipline.
The remaining third-round fixtures in the qualifying campaign are scheduled for 14 February, when the final line-up for the decisive stage will be completed.
With Cameroon and Benin already through, attention now turns to the concluding ties that will determine who joins them in the next phase of the race to Poland 2026.
