The U-17 Lionesses book FIFA U17 Women's World Cup spot
Published: Friday, 25 April 2025
Following an away victory in Kenya, Cameroon completed the job at a vibrant Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium filled with the sounds of drums and chants to secure their place in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup with a 3-1 win over the East Africans.
The tone was set as early as the 7th minute. Béatrice Lafortune Avana, full of energy and instinct, pounced in the box to open the scoring and ignite the Yaoundé crowd. Although the Kenyans managed to equalize later in the first half, the balance remained delicate.
Returning from the break with the same attacking intent, Cameroon regained the lead through Ange Tazanou, who showed composure to finish off a collective move in the 51st minute. Then, like a true leader, captain Tiwa Lys Fraîche—already the hero of the first leg—put the result beyond doubt by converting a penalty in the dying minutes (86').
At the end of this perfectly managed two-legged tie, the young Lionesses clinched their third qualification for a U-17 Women's World Cup, after appearances in 2016 and 2018.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
17 hours ago
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON: Senegal Team Profile
Published: Monday, 09 June 2025 How the team qualified The Lionesses of Teranga booked their place at the finals by defeating Egypt in the second round of qualifiers. They secured a convincing 4–0 victory in the first leg in Thiès, followed by a goalless draw in Cairo to confirm their ticket to the final tournament in Morocco. TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON history This will be Senegal's third appearance at the TotalEnergies CAF Women's AFCON finals, following 2012 and 2022 participations. In the most recent edition, held in Morocco, the Lionesses reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by Zambia in a penalty shootout (4–2). Players to watch Ndeye Awa Diakhaté: A forward for Olympique de Marseille, she scored Senegal's first ever goal in a TotalEnergies CAF Women's AFCON final stage during the 2022 tournament. Quick, skilful, and with excellent positioning, she is a constant threat to opposing defences. Her experience in France has helped elevate her game, making her one of the key attacking assets for the Lionesses. Korka Fall: At 35, she plays for SM Caen and captained the team during the 2023 WAFU tournament, which the Lionesses won. A solid presence in midfield, she brings stability, physicality, and leadership. Her vision and ability to dictate play make her a crucial figure in Senegal's setup. The Head Coach Mame Moussa Cissé guided the Lionesses to the quarterfinals of the 2022 edition and now aims for further progress. A meticulous tactician, he focuses on squad stability, the development of young talent, and improved attacking efficiency to take the team to the next level. Ambitions and Group Analysis Senegal have been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Morocco, 2022 bronze medallists Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's a competitive group where every match promises to be tightly contested. Building on their encouraging 2022 campaign, the Lionesses of Teranga enter this edition with high ambitions. The coaching staff has set a clear objective: to reach at least the semi-finals. They will rely on the experience of veterans like Korka Fall and the attacking prowess of players like Diakhaté. Against strong opposition, Senegal will need to show discipline, unity, and tactical intelligence to establish themselves as serious contenders in the tournament.
CAF
4 days ago
- CAF
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2025™: Morocco to Face Brazil in opening match
The draw for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco 2025™, held on Wednesday in Rabat, set the tone for a highly anticipated edition of the tournament featuring competitive groups and a dazzling, historic opening match between the host nation and Brazil. The African flag will be flown by hosts Morocco, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Zambia during the 3-week tournament taking place between 17 October – 8 November. As hosts of this eighth edition, Morocco have not been dealt an easy hand. Drawn into Group A alongside Brazil, Italy, and Costa Rica The opening match, scheduled to take place in Rabat, will see Morocco go head-to-head with a Brazilian side renowned for its strength at youth level. This high-profile fixture will serve as an important benchmark for Morocco, as they gauge how far they've come in their footballing development. Cameroon to Tackle a Formidable Group B Group B presents a stern test for Cameroon, who will face North Korea, Mexico, and the Netherlands in a compelling mix of footballing philosophies and playing styles. The Lionesses will need to combine tactical discipline with physical strength to compete effectively. Although Cameroon have never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in this competition, their U-17 side will be hoping to break new ground. Their recent success on the regional stage, particularly within the UNIFFAC zone, offers a solid foundation for optimism. Nigeria Aim to Maintain Their Legacy As one of the most successful African nations at youth level, Nigeria arrive with a proud legacy to uphold. Drawn into Group D, the Super Flamingos will take on France, Canada, and Samoa. It's a challenging group, but well within reach for a team known for its athletic prowess and technical quality. The Nigerian class of 2025 is attracting a lot of attention. With the right momentum, they have the potential to reach the quarterfinals or even further. Their encounter with France could very well be the pivotal fixture of the group. Debut Challenge for Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire will make their tournament debut in Group E, where they'll face Spain, Colombia, and South Korea. The Ivorians will need to demonstrate character and determination to compete at this level. Their match against Spain, the runners-up in the previous edition, will be a formidable test. However, it's not insurmountable. Should the Little Elephants manage to hold off the Spanish onslaught, an upset could be on the cards. Their attacking line known for its speed and unpredictability could be their biggest asset. Zambia Ready to Make a Statement in Group F In Group F, Zambia is set to face Japan, New Zealand, and Paraguay. Though less experienced than their opponents, the U-17 Copper Princesses arrive with a clear goal: to surpass the performance of previous African teams at this stage of the tournament. It's a demanding draw, particularly against a Japanese side famed for its collective organisation and fluidity.
CAF
29-05-2025
- CAF
Côte d'Ivoire braced for tough U-17 World Cup test, says Diabate
Published: Thursday, 29 May 2025 Côte d'Ivoire U-17 head coach Bassiriki Diabate has admitted his side faces a daunting challenge at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 after being drawn into what he described as a 'difficult group.' The Elephants will compete in Group F alongside Mexico, Korea Republic, and Switzerland — a trio of teams representing three different continents and styles of play. 'This draw placed us in a rather difficult group,' said Diabate following the draw in Doha on 25 May. 'We have Mexico from the Americas, Switzerland from Europe, and Korea Republic from Asia. It's quite a diverse group with some very strong teams, which will make this competition quite challenging for us.' The 2025 tournament will mark Côte d'Ivoire's return to the global U-17 stage, with the expanded 48-team format offering a bigger platform for African youth talent. But for Diabate and his technical team, the blend of football cultures in their group means preparation must be precise. 'Our players must be ready to face different football philosophies in a very short space of time,' Diabate added. 'It's a big learning opportunity, but also a massive test of tactical adaptability and mental strength.' The Elephants qualified for the global finals through a strong performance at the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. They are now tasked with making their mark against some of the game's best youth sides in Qatar. Mexico are traditionally strong at youth level, having won the U-17 World Cup twice (2005, 2011), while Korea Republic bring technical discipline and intensity. Switzerland, known for producing highly organized and physically robust sides, round off the group. Despite the challenges ahead, Diabate remains optimistic that Côte d'Ivoire can rise to the occasion. 'Our objective is to compete, grow, and show that Ivorian football has a bright future,' he said. 'We are not just going to participate — we aim to compete at the highest level.' The Elephants will open their campaign in Group F when the tournament begins on 3 November in Qatar. All eyes will be on how this young Ivorian side navigates one of the most intriguing groups in the expanded global showpiece.
