By Sonita Ngunyi Nwohtazie
BUEA, Cameroon – The U17 Lionesses of Cameroon are one step closer to the next round of the FIFA U17 World Cup after delivering a commanding performance, defeating the U17 side of Egypt 5-0 in the first leg of the qualifiers. Played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Cameroon’s dominance was on full display as they cruised to victory past their Egyptian hosts.
14-year-old Angel Tazanou was the star of the evening, securing a hattrick that left the Egyptian defence in disarray. She opened the scoring just 25 minutes into the game and three minutes later, she turned provider for Nkoussa Divine for a well-placed finish. Diva Tiwa Lys will make it 3-0 from the penalty spot as Cameroon took a comfortable lead into the break.
The second half began as the first with Cameroon on the front foot looking to add to their goal tally. Taznou made it 4-0 at the 72nd-minute mark and then got her third goal of the game in the 84th minute and Cameroon’s fifth and final goal of the game.
With a five-goal advantage heading into the second leg, the Lionesses are favourites to progress. However, the team is not taking anything for granted, as officials have emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and finishing strong at home. The winner of the two-legged tie will move one step closer to securing a spot in the 2025 U17 FIFA World Cup in Morocco.
The victory for Cameroon is a positive start in the competition. Team Cameroon lastly participated in the tournament in 2018 and will look to make her presence felt with hopes of qualifying for the Morocco expedition. The return leg of the game has been slated for January 18 in Bafoussam.
