The Democratic Republic of Congo’s hopes of qualifying for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were emphatically dashed following a devastating 6-0 defeat to hosts Cameroon in the final round of the UNIFFAC qualifiers on Saturday.
Facing a formidable Cameroonian side at the annex of the Stade de la Réunification in Bépanda, Douala, the young Leopards were left powerless as the Indomitable Lion Cubs extended their unbeaten run in the qualifiers, confirming their spot in the U17 AFCON, set to take place from March 30 to April 19.
For DR Congo, the odds were already stacked against them heading into the clash. Not only did they need a positive result against a ruthless Cameroonian side, but they also had to rely on the Central African Republic faltering against Gabon—a scenario that was always unlikely.
A Nightmare Start for DR Congo
Any lingering hope for the Congolese was extinguished almost immediately. Cameroon wasted no time in asserting their dominance as winger Franck Mafany Luma found the net within the opening 10 seconds, handing the hosts a blistering start that set the tone for the rest of the match.
DR Congo struggled to regain composure as Cameroon continued their relentless assault. Left winger Nzene doubled the advantage before full-back Oscar Etoundi added a third. The situation worsened for the Leopards when an unfortunate own goal just before halftime pushed the scoreline to 4-0.
Despite the scoreline, Cameroon’s first-half onslaught could have been even more punishing. Mafany Luma had a golden opportunity to extend the lead further but missed a penalty in the 43rd minute—an isolated moment of respite for the overwhelmed Congolese side.
Second-Half Dominance Secures Cameroonian Victory
The second half brought no relief for DR Congo. Though Arnold Massokon had a goal disallowed for offside in the 59th minute, Cameroon’s attacking force remained relentless.
Just two minutes later, Omar Amir Tsombeng unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, leaving the Congolese goalkeeper helpless and the scoreline at 5-0.
In stoppage time, central defender Doumbogo capped off Cameroon’s emphatic display, firing home a powerful effort that sealed the 6-0 demolition and confirmed the Lion Cubs’ place in the upcoming U17 AFCON.
DR Congo’s Exit Marks a Bitter End
For the DR Congo U17 squad, the result is a crushing blow, bringing their qualification journey to an abrupt and humiliating end.
The young Leopards had hoped to mount a challenge but were simply outclassed by a Cameroonian side that demonstrated their attacking prowess throughout the tournament.
Cameroon ended their qualification campaign with an astonishing 22 goals scored and only one conceded, following earlier dominant wins over the Central African Republic (9-0) and Gabon (7-1).
The defeat leaves DR Congo reflecting on missed opportunities and a tournament where they were outpaced and outplayed by their regional rivals.
The U17 AFCON will now move forward without them, while Cameroon heads into the continental competition with momentum and high expectations.
🔴 Les Lions U17 écrasent la République Démocratique du Congo (6-0), en clôture du Tournoi de l’UNIFFAC et terminent la compétition invaincus.
Frank Mafany Luma, Abraham Kolly, Oscar Etoundi, Luc Nzene, Amir Tsombeng et Doumbogo sont les buteurs de la partie. 🇨🇲🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/N3NKxvSuhy
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) February 22, 2025
