Cameroon secured their place at the CAN U20 finals by beating Gabon 4-1 in the semi-finals of the Central African qualifiers on Wednesday.

The result was achieved in numerical superiority at Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde, where Yvan Kenmoe’s side recovered from conceding the opening goal to complete a convincing victory.

Joachim Songue of Almasi Mbaya scored twice for the Indomitable Lion Cubs, while Samuel Achu of Canon Yaounde and Bengono Manga of PWD Bamenda were also on target.

The qualification ends Cameroon’s absence from the final tournament after they missed the previous two editions, in 2023 and 2025.

Central African qualification

Earlier on Wednesday, Central African Republic also booked their place in the finals with a 2-0 victory over Congo Brazzaville in Yaounde.

Cameroon and Central African Republic join the eight teams that had already qualified from the other regional qualifying competitions.

Morocco and Egypt came through the North African qualifiers organised by UNAF. Ghana, who will host the tournament, and Burkina Faso qualified from West Africa B through UFOA B.

Sudan and Tanzania progressed from the East African competition run by CECAFA, while South Africa and Mozambique secured the two places available in Southern Africa through COSAFA.

Only two qualification places are still to be decided. Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Mauritania are competing for them in the West Africa A qualifiers, organised by UFOA A.