U-17: Serengeti Boys impress with Cameroon win ahead of U-17 AFCON

Tanzania’s U-17 national team, the Serengeti Boys, delivered a strong performance with a 3-1 victory over Cameroon in a pre tournament friendly played at Laarbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

The convincing win serves as a timely boost for head coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu and his squad as they continue fine tuning preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Goals from Sadam Hussein, Razaki Mbengelendi, and Abbas Said secured the result for the young Tanzanian side, underlining their attacking potential and growing confidence ahead of the continental competition. The match provided a valuable test against a physically strong Cameroonian side, allowing the technical bench to assess tactical discipline, match fitness, and squad depth.

 

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The performance reflected the team’s readiness and determination to compete at a higher level, with the players showing composure and organization throughout the encounter.

The Serengeti Boys are preparing for their fourth appearance at the U-17 AFCON tournament, which is set to kick off on May 13 in Morocco, with the hosts facing Tunisia in the opening fixture.

They will begin their Group C campaign on May 14 against Mozambique, before taking on Angola on May 17. They will conclude their group stage matches with a tough encounter against Mali on May 20.

The East African nation will be aiming to improve on their previous outings in the tournament, having exited at the group stage in their past appearances in 2017, 2019, and 2025.

The 2026 edition of the competition features 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, while Group B is made up of Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, and DR Congo. Tanzania are placed in Group C alongside Mali, Angola, and Mozambique, while defending champions Senegal headline Group D, which also features South Africa, Algeria, and Ghana.

With this impressive victory over Cameroon, the Serengeti Boys have sent a clear message of intent as they head into the tournament, raising hopes of a stronger and more competitive campaign this time around.