AFCON U17 Preparation

The team had already played two friendly matches against local youth academies as part of their preparation, further confirming what Atangana suspected.

The first match against Kadji Sports Academy had ended in a 1-0 win, with Ganago scoring the only goal off a cross from Marcel. They had dominated possession, suffocating their opponents, but their finishing had been wasteful.

The second match against Nkufo Academy, the reigning Brasseries Tournament champions, ended with the same scoreline—1-0, this time with Marcel himself scoring the winner.

Both matches followed the same frustrating pattern: dominance without a cutting edge. The team played well, controlled the flow of the game, but lacked the killer instinct to convert their superiority into goals.

And if they couldn't start finishing their chances, they would be punished when it really mattered.

It was after these matches that Atangana finally made his decision.

The locker room was silent as the players sat, sweat still clinging to their skin after another demanding session. Atangana stood in front of them, his arms crossed, his expression as serious as ever.

His eyes scanned the squad before he spoke.

"Our next games won't be easy," he began, his voice steady. "Yes, they're just friendlies, but that doesn't mean we don't play to win."

The players nodded, listening attentively.

"Every time you put on this jersey, you play to win," he continued, his tone carrying weight. "Senegal U17 will be our first challenge, then Gabon U17 on January 8th."

The squad took the information in quietly, but then he paused, letting the silence build before delivering the final news.

"And for the last match…" he exhaled slightly. "We will travel to Europe to play against Portugal U17."

A ripple of shock spread through the team.

Some players looked excited, others hesitant, a few even nervous. Portugal. A European powerhouse. It would be their first time traveling outside Africa, their first true test against a team from one of football's elite nations.

Marcel felt a surge of excitement. Finally, a real challenge. A chance to measure himself against one of the best youth teams in the world.

Atangana gave them a moment to process before his sharp tone cut through their murmurs.

"I know some of you have doubts about our chances," he said, his gaze sharp. "Maybe you're right. Maybe they are better than us. But that does not mean we can't beat them."

He let that statement settle before continuing.

"This match isn't just about preparation—it's about proving that we belong at the top level. Our goal in AFCON U17 is to win the tournament. If we do that, we qualify for the U17 World Cup. And when we get there, we won't just face African teams. We'll play against Europe, South America, Asia. If we start preparing now, we'll be ready when the time comes."

The squad absorbed his words in silence.

Then he turned, walking toward the whiteboard where the team's formation was drawn. His marker tapped on one specific position—the left wing, where Marcel's name was written.

"The way we play won't change drastically," he began. "But from now on, our attack will focus on Marcel."

A few glances were exchanged, and Marcel felt eyes drifting toward him. He didn't react, keeping his expression neutral.

"This isn't favoritism," Atangana continued before anyone could object. "The past four games have made one thing crystal clear—Marcel is the most dangerous player in this squad. Even when he's not trying to score, he's our biggest goal threat. Now, imagine if he actually played with that intent."

He tapped the whiteboard again, circling Marcel's position.

"Before, he was staying too wide. That changes now. From today, when we attack, he's not just a winger—he's our main attacking threat. He will cut inside more, get into the box, and look to score. That means some of you need to adjust."

He turned to the strikers, including Ganago.

"You're not just waiting for crosses anymore. You will drop deeper, move into space, drag defenders away. Marcel will attack that space."

Then he shifted to Ngoah, the playmaker.

"You will be closer to him. When he moves inside, support him. If defenders crowd him, be ready to take the shot yourself."

His eyes moved to Namekong, the right winger.

"When Marcel moves inside, you attack the far post. Don't just stand there waiting for the ball. If he cuts in, you need to be another scoring option."

Then, the midfielders.

"One of you pushes forward, the other stays back to cover. Marcel won't be tracking deep, so we must stay balanced."

Finally, he addressed the left-back.

"Your job is simple. When Marcel cuts inside, you decide—do you overlap to give us width, or do you stay back and protect against counters? No reckless runs."

He stepped back, studying their faces. Some were still processing, others were already nodding.

His gaze locked onto Marcel.

"You dribble a lot," he said. "But now, I want more purpose in your movement."

Marcel's posture straightened slightly.

"If you see a shooting angle, take it. If you're in the box, attack the goal. If you don't have the ball, move into space so we can find you faster. You're not just a creator anymore—you're the one we trust to win us games."

The room was completely silent now.

It wasn't out of confusion.

It wasn't out of doubt.

It was understanding.

They still weren't a perfect team. They would make mistakes, lose possession, misplace passes.

But now, there was a clear plan.

And with Marcel leading the attack, they weren't just going to AFCON U17 to participate.

They were going to win.

...

The adjustments made by Coach Atangana had begun to take effect. Marcel was now taking more responsibility in attack, and the team's chemistry was improving after all the matches they had played together. Even though the squad was still large, with some players set to be cut before AFCON, most of them already had a sense of who would make the final list.

But since Marcel had only recently become the centerpiece of the attack, the team was still adjusting to the tactical shift. And in their next match against Senegal U17, those growing pains were exposed.

The game ended in a 3-3 draw, a thrilling, fast-paced encounter where both teams showed their offensive quality but defensive vulnerability.

Senegal had strong, physical players, and their pressing game was relentless, forcing Cameroon into mistakes in midfield. Defensively, Cameroon struggled with their new shape—Marcel was tracking back less, meaning when the left-back overlapped, it left open dangerous gaps on the left side. Senegal exploited this space, attacking that wing repeatedly and forcing Cameroon's defense into uncomfortable positions.

The goals Cameroon conceded were frustrating—misplaced passes, poor defensive positioning, and moments of indecision. They were caught out in transition multiple times, struggling to adjust to the new setup where the attack flowed through Marcel.

But at the same time, their three goals showcased the progress in attack, proving just how crucial Marcel was to the team's offensive play.

The first goal came in the 18th minute and was a direct result of Marcel's explosive pace and dribbling.

Ngoah, picking up the ball in midfield, spotted Marcel making a diagonal run behind Senegal's left-back. With perfect timing, he threaded a through ball into space, allowing Marcel to sprint onto it, leaving his marker in the dust.

As he closed in on the box, a Senegalese center-back rushed to cover, but Marcel cut inside sharply, sending his opponent stumbling in the wrong direction. With a quick shift of his body, he fired a powerful shot towards the near post.

The goalkeeper reacted well, diving to parry the ball, but he could only deflect it into the path of Hongla, who had followed up the play. With the keeper still on the ground, Hongla tapped the ball into the empty net, giving Cameroon the lead.

The second goal, in the 39th minute, was a brilliant one-two combination between Marcel and Ngoah.

Marcel received the ball near the left side of the box and instantly drew two defenders towards him. But instead of forcing his way through, he quickly played a short pass to Ngoah and immediately darted forward into space.

Ngoah, anticipating the movement, flicked the ball back first-time, allowing Marcel to break through the defensive line.

Instead of shooting, Marcel noticed that Ngoah had continued his run towards the edge of the box. With defenders now collapsing on him, Marcel used the outside of his foot to lay the ball back.

Ngoah didn't hesitate. He took one touch to set himself, then unleashed a rocket of a shot from outside the box, the ball swerving mid-air before smashing into the top-right corner.

The crowd in the small stadium erupted in cheers as the ball crashed against the net. A purely technical goal, the type that showed just how good their attacking chemistry was becoming.

The third goal, in the 70th minute, was a moment of individual brilliance from Marcel—a goal that showed why he was becoming the focal point of the attack.

Cameroon's center-back Jean launched a long ball from deep, looking for a quick counter. The pass seemed too ambitious at first, but Marcel, anticipating it, made a perfectly timed run between the two center-backs, beating the offside trap.

As the ball dropped in front of him, he didn't need to take a touch to control it—his acceleration carried him forward as he approached the box, now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The Senegalese keeper rushed out, trying to close the angle, but Marcel remained calm.

With quick, sharp step-overs, he baited the keeper into committing, then nudged the ball to the left, completely taking him out of the equation.

With the goal now wide open, Marcel casually rolled the ball into the net, finishing with a touch of arrogance.

It was a statement goal. One that showed that Marcel was ready for the bigger stage.

Despite the result, Coach Atangana wasn't fully satisfied. Scoring three goals was great, but conceding three in return was unacceptable. If they played like this in AFCON, they would be punished by better teams.

So, before the next match against Gabon U17, he switched the training focus.

For the next week, defensive positioning became the priority. Players had to cover for each other, stay compact when attacking, and eliminate unnecessary gaps in the formation. Defenders drilled on anticipating counters, midfielders learned to track back faster and block passing lanes.

By the time they faced Gabon, the results of that defensive training were clear.

The match ended in a brutal 9-0 domination, with Cameroon completely overpowering Gabon in every aspect of the game.

Marcel was unplayable, delivering a four-goal, three-assist performance that showcased his full range of skills.

His first goal was a beautiful solo effort—receiving the ball on the left wing, he beat two defenders with a double body feint, surged into the box, and curled a precise shot past the keeper into the far corner.

His second goal came after a quick exchange with Ngoah, cutting inside from the right before smashing a low shot between the keeper's legs.

The third goal was a pure striker's instinct—he reacted first to a rebound after Ganago's shot was saved, calmly slotting home from close range.

And the fourth goal was the best of them all. Picking up the ball just past midfield, he went on a mesmerizing solo run, weaving past three Gabonese defenders before sitting down the goalkeeper with a fake shot, then gently tapping the ball into the net.

It was the kind of performance that left the opposing team completely demoralized.

The other goals were scored by Ganago (two), Namekong (one), Ngoah (one, a brilliant free-kick), and Toukam (one).

After this match, the final squad list for AFCON U17 was announced, with most of the key players from the Ghana qualifiers making the cut.

Now, everything was set.

The tournament had two groups, A and B, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. More importantly, reaching the semi-finals meant automatic qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in November.

Cameroon was drawn in Group B, alongside Mali, South Africa, and their historic rivals, Ivory Coast.

They would open against Mali, then face Ivory Coast, before finishing the group stage against South Africa.

But before AFCON U17, one last challenge awaited them—a trip to Europe.

A match against Portugal U17, one of the strongest youth teams in Europe.

For many of them, it would be their first time stepping onto European soil.

For Marcel, it was another test.

A chance to show that he wasn't just the one of the best young player in Africa—but that he could shine against Europe's finest as well.