Prelude AFCON U17
Outside Le Normalien, the black metal fence enclosed the restaurant, with tall palm trees swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. The green-tiled roof stood out, and a few red-covered tables were neatly arranged outside. Customers walked up the small path leading to the entrance, stepping onto the tiled porch before heading inside.
Just past the entrance, the reception counter was positioned diagonally to the right, with a large plasma TV mounted above it. A fridge stocked with fruit juices stood beside the counter, while to the left, the buffet area displayed steaming dishes for customers to serve themselves. The dining area was lively, filled with the sounds of clinking plates and quiet conversations as patrons enjoyed their meals.
Above the counter, CRTV was playing. The program had just switched to the football segment, and suddenly, all the waiters, waitresses, and the receptionist turned toward the screen. A familiar face had appeared—Marcel.
The CRTV sports segment had just begun, drawing the attention of both customers and staff at Le Normalien. The waiters, waitresses, and even Francine's receptionist turned toward the large TV mounted above the counter. It wasn't often that local players received this kind of attention, and when they saw the image of Marcel appear on the screen, curiosity spread through the restaurant.
"Isn't that little Marcel?" one of the waitresses asked, frowning in surprise.
"What's he doing on CRTV?" another waiter added, stepping closer.
"Since it's the football segment, it's probably about that. Quick, go call the boss! She'll want to hear this," a more senior waiter instructed.
One of the waitresses hurried toward the back to find Francine. Meanwhile, the discussion continued among the staff.
"I see people talk about him on Facebook sometimes, calling him the next big thing, but that was just small posts. Now, he's on national TV?" a waiter mused.
"That kid is rising fast, huh?" another waitress said, nodding approvingly.
"Barely six months since he started playing for the U17 team, and he's already making waves," the senior waiter remarked. "I always had a feeling he'd go far. I saw him juggling a ball in the restaurant courtyard every chance he got."
At that moment, Francine stepped into the main area, wiping her hands with a cloth. Her eyes immediately found the TV screen, where the sports presenters were discussing the U17 AFCON.
…
On CRTV
"Now, we begin our football segment. The AFCON U17 in Niger is just a few days away, and our Baby Lions will be aiming to reclaim the title—one we last won back in 2003," the female presenter announced.
"That makes it eleven years since our last victory," her co-host chimed in. "Cameroon is a historic football nation, but this drought at the youth level is unacceptable. We are a giant in African football—our youth teams should be proving our superiority."
"Speaking of the Baby Lions, they played their final preparation match before heading to Niger, facing Portugal U17. And the result? It will surprise many," the female presenter teased.
"Indeed! Not one, not two, but a 5-1 demolition of Portugal U17! A masterclass performance from the Baby Lions!" the male presenter exclaimed.
"And who was the star of the match? If you follow youth football, you may have heard this name buzzing in recent months."
"That's right. Marcel Ndonga, with a hat-trick in this match, showcasing his immense talent. Once again, just like in the U17 AFCON qualifiers, he's leading the team—while being just 14 years old! Maybe, just maybe, we've found our next Samuel Eto'o. What do you think?"
"From what he's shown, we know at least one thing—this boy is special. Just five matches with the Baby Lions, and he already has 13 goals and 5 assists. These are numbers we don't see often at this level. Cameroon fans, keep an eye on him! Maybe he's the key to bringing Cameroon back to the top of African youth football."
…
"Boss, your son is really something, eh? Now he's on CRTV, scoring three against Portugal."
Francine remained calm on the surface, only allowing a small smile, but inside, her heart swelled with pride. She had always believed in Marcel, yet seeing him become a national topic so quickly felt surreal.
"Yeah, he's still a child," she said modestly. "I didn't expect him to rise this fast. I just hope he stays focused and finds success in his career."
At that moment, an elderly man stood up from a nearby table and approached Francine. His presence immediately commanded attention—it was Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, the government delegate of Yaoundé.
"Francine, isn't that your son they're talking about?"
Francine turned to him with a respectful nod.
"Yes, Mr. Delegate. That's my son. He's beginning to make a name for himself."
"Ah, congratulations! Cameroon needs new football stars, and from what they're saying, he's got a bright future ahead. Hopefully, soon, we'll see him in the senior national team."
"Thank you, Mr. Delegate," Francine replied, her voice steady, but inside, she was bursting with pride.
As Tsimi Evouna returned to his meal, Francine glanced at the TV screen once more. Even the government officials knew about Marcel now.
"I have to call my husband about this," she thought, smiling to herself.
...
...
Rafael Monteiro walked briskly down the corridor toward the office of Carlos Domingues, Sporting CP's Head of Youth Development. His phone was in his hand, and as he scrolled through O Jogo, he came across a short match report.
> Portugal U17's experimental squad crushed by Cameroonian physicality—5-1 defeat.
The young Portuguese side struggled against the physically dominant Cameroonians, conceding five goals in a tough evening.
Hat-trick hero: Cameroon's No.17 winger stole the show.
Rafael read the article, shaking his head slightly. He knew the loss wouldn't create waves since it was just a friendly with an experimental lineup, but that last sentence caught his attention.
"Hat-trick hero. No.17."
He reached the office door and knocked.
"Enter," came the response from inside.
Rafael stepped in and saw Carlos Domingues seated behind his desk, casually leaning back in his chair.
"Did you watch the tape of the match I sent you?" Rafael asked, closing the door behind him.
Carlos nodded with a small smile. "Yes. And yes, he's good. Very good. He could fit into our youth team without a doubt."
"That's exactly what I thought." Rafael took a seat across from him. "But from what I've seen, Benfica and Porto are already on him. That puts us at a disadvantage if we want to sign him at 16."
Carlos exhaled, unfazed. "Not necessarily. They might have seen him first, but until he turns 16, none of us can sign him. We're still on equal footing."
Rafael frowned. "That's true… but if they've already spoken to his parents, we're not exactly on equal footing anymore."
Carlos nodded, acknowledging the point. "That's fair. But verbal agreements aren't contracts. If we offer something better, that 'understanding' can be voided easily." His lips curled into a small smirk.
"So, what's the plan?" Rafael leaned forward slightly.
"Simple. We keep monitoring him at the AFCON U17. If he performs well, I'll push harder to get Sporting's higher-ups involved in his recruitment." Carlos tapped his fingers on the desk. "Your job is to watch him closely—not just his talent, but his mentality, decision-making, and how he handles pressure in knockout matches. We know he shines in friendlies, but a tournament is different."
Rafael nodded, understanding the task. "Got it."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Carlos… I don't know how you stay this calm. We might have our next Cristiano Ronaldo here."
Carlos chuckled and shook his head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's talented, but he hasn't even played professional football yet. Until he proves himself at a higher level, let's keep things in perspective."
Rafael sighed, leaning back. "You're right. I'll wait to see how he plays in an important tournament before making any bold statements."
Carlos nodded in approval, and the conversation drifted toward Sporting's current youth prospects.
...
...
In a hidden corner of Le Normalien restaurant, under the shade of a large parasol, Francine Ndonga sat opposite a man in a simple short-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and a cap bearing the FC Porto logo. His Nike sneakers rested casually against the tiled floor as he leaned slightly forward, his expression calm.
"Hello, Ms. Ndonga. It's a pleasure to finally meet you after our brief exchanges through Coach Émile," said Nuno Almeida, offering a polite smile.
Francine nodded, returning the greeting. "Likewise. I hope the sun isn't bothering you?"
Nuno chuckled. "Not at all. The temperature is quite similar to Portugal, so I'm used to it."
With pleasantries out of the way, Francine remained composed, waiting for him to get to the point. Seeing this, Nuno straightened slightly, knowing it was time to talk business.
"I understand that Benfica has already been in contact with you," Nuno began, his voice measured. "But I wanted to personally express that Porto is also very interested in Marcel's talent and potential."
Francine observed him carefully but said nothing, allowing him to continue.
To demonstrate Porto's seriousness, Nuno reached into his bag and pulled out a tablet. "To show our commitment, I've scheduled a call with our Head of Youth Development, Manuel Teixeira. He'll explain in detail what we can offer Marcel."
Francine raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Oh? That's unexpected." She glanced at the tablet as the call began to connect.
Finally, the screen lit up, revealing Manuel Teixeira's familiar face.
"Hello, Ms. Ndonga. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've been looking forward to this conversation," he said warmly. "I also hoped to speak with Marcel, but since he's at the tournament, that will have to wait."
Francine gave a small smile. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Teixeira."
Manuel wasted no time. "Our scout Nuno Almeida has likely spoken to you about our interest, but let me be clear: We want Marcel to sign a pre-contract with us when he turns 16, which would guarantee his transfer to Porto at 18."
Before he could go any further, Francine raised a hand, cutting him off gently.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but before we talk about what you can offer, I have a few concerns I'd like to clarify."
Manuel nodded. "Of course, go ahead."
Francine's tone was serious. "If Marcel signs this pre-contract at 16, what happens if, for some reason, Porto decides later that he's no longer good enough? Could you void the agreement unilaterally?"
Manuel's expression remained reassuring. "That's a valid question. But rest assured, Porto does not take commitments lightly. If we sign a player, we follow through—even if his development isn't as rapid as expected."
He leaned forward slightly. "The only way the pre-contract can be voided is by mutual agreement. For example, if Marcel no longer wants to join us and we also decide to part ways, then we could reach an understanding. But we would never drop a player simply because his progress is slower than anticipated."
Manuel then added confidently, "From what I've seen of Marcel, I have no doubts about his potential. He's not just a temporary standout—he has the talent to become one of the best. That's why we're making such an effort."
Francine studied his expression carefully before nodding. "Good. You can continue, then."
Manuel smiled and continued. "To support Marcel's natural development, we would provide a personalized training plan to guide his progress over the next two years. Additionally, we'd send a scout every three months to assess his development and follow his performances closely."
Francine listened attentively as he went on.
"But beyond that, we want to ensure Marcel's smooth transition to Portugal. We'd provide him with a private tutor to teach him Portuguese from now until he arrives at 18. This will be a crucial advantage when he integrates into the club later."
Francine nodded. "This language tutor and training plan—are these only if we agree to the pre-contract at 16?"
Manuel immediately shook his head. "No, no—this is separate from the pre-contract. We are offering this right away, even before any official commitment. It's our way of showing how serious we are about Marcel."**
Francine couldn't hide her slight smile. "That's reassuring. To be honest, you sound more sincere and confident in Marcel's talent than others."
Seeing Manuel's curiosity, she continued.
"Since you've been honest with me, I'll be honest with you too. Another club in Portugal has also shown interest—Sporting CP."
Nuno immediately tensed, while Manuel's expression hardened slightly. Neither of them had expected Sporting to move this quickly.
Francine continued, "They contacted us through Coach Émile, just like you. But unlike you, they weren't willing to explain what they could offer. They just told us to wait until Marcel turns 16, saying we'd be in a stronger negotiating position then. They made it clear they don't want to make any promises until they're certain of his talent."
There was a moment of silence. Then, Manuel chuckled dryly. "Typical Sporting."
Francine crossed her arms. "Honestly, I didn't appreciate their tone. It sounded like they don't fully trust my son's talent yet. But in a way, they're not wrong—we don't need to rush anything."
Manuel nodded, adapting quickly. "I completely understand your position, Ms. Ndonga. And as I said, we're in no hurry—we know we can't sign Marcel until he's 16. But we believe in his potential enough to invest in him now, not wait to see if he 'proves' himself further."
Francine appreciated the directness. "Fair enough. I'll have to discuss this with Marcel. It's his future, after all."
Manuel smiled. "Of course. In the meantime, here's what happens next. When Marcel finishes his tournament, Nuno will return to Cameroon with a Portuguese tutor, who will stay there until Marcel turns 16. If Marcel eventually signs with us, the tutor will continue supporting him until he arrives in Porto at 18."
Nuno finally spoke again, reinforcing Manuel's point. "I'll also personally deliver the training plan, which has been designed by our coaches specifically for Marcel's development."
Francine sighed softly, smiling. "I appreciate all this, truly."
Manuel chuckled. "No need to thank us. This is the least we can do for a player we believe in."
With that, the call ended, and Nuno stood up, shaking Francine's hand firmly.
"As you can see, we're serious about Marcel. I hope, in the end, you'll choose Porto."
Francine smiled. "I appreciate this discussion. Let's see what happens."
Nuno nodded and left the restaurant, leaving Francine massaging her temples.
"This is exhausting…" she thought.
"I need to find an agent for Marcel. I can't handle this alone. I don't even know if I made the right choices in this conversation. And if things are already this complicated at 14, imagine when he turns professional… I don't have the time or expertise to manage all of this myself."
Letting out a deep breath, Francine resolved to wait until Marcel turned 16 before finding a competent, trustworthy agent—someone who wouldn't scam them, but would protect Marcel's future.
For now, all she could do was wait.
...
...
I was lying on my bed, texting Christina before turning in for the night. Tomorrow was a big day—the start of the AFCON U17, and we were facing Mali in our opening match.
Marcel: Goodnight, Christie. I have to sleep now, big game tomorrow.
Christina: Oh, okay. Goodnight then! You're really lucky you don't have to stress about school or exams right now.
Marcel: Yeah, but I'll still have to do those exams later while you're in normal classes. I'll have to catch up while also training and playing matches.
Christina: Hahaha, yeah, that's even more work! And if you have more matches with your club, it'll delay you even more.
Marcel: :( Well, that's true...
Christina: Weren't you supposed to be going to sleep? Why are you starting a whole new conversation?
Marcel: Eh? Wasn't it you who started it?
Christina: Hahaha, okay, okay. I'll let you sleep. I don't want you blaming me if you don't play well tomorrow. Goodnight! And don't forget to send me those pictures from Portugal!
Marcel: Okay, really this time. Goodnight, Christie.
Christina: Goodnight, bb.
I put my phone down with a small smile.
Then suddenly, I realized—I hadn't even checked the system interface after the match. Maybe there were extra rewards since I had exceeded the mission objectives?
Curious, I opened the system, and immediately, notifications popped up.
…
[System Notifications]
First match in Europe - Mission Completed
You did not lose, but won by a large margin. Your rewards have been upgraded!
Check the Missions tab to claim your rewards.
Scoring Performance Bonus - Mission Completed
You surpassed the one-goal target with a hat-trick. Your rewards have been upgraded!
Check the Missions tab to claim your rewards.
…
I smirked. As expected, the system adjusted the rewards since I went beyond the original target.
"The MTN Elite One isn't ready for what's coming," I thought. Once I join the first team, I'll finally unlock the system's Market. And if we win the AFCON U17, I'll have even more points to spend—I'll buy the most expensive Bronze special boost available!
I tapped on the Elite Boost System screen to check my current status.
…
[Elite Boost System]
Level: 1 (51/500 XP)
Name: Marcel Ndonga
Date of Birth: 17 May 2000 (14 years old)
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Position: Left Winger / Right Winger
Special Boosts:
Bronze Boost: Defensive Cohesion +5% (One slot available)
Lottery Tickets: 0
Market: Locked (Unlocks upon joining a professional first team)
Player attributes
Missions: Active
Points: 95
…
My XP and points had increased, probably from the usual match rewards. I wasn't expecting to level up yet since the requirements were much higher.
Then, I tapped into the Missions section and checked the secondary objectives from the match.
…
[Secondary Missions]
[First Match in Europe]
The host is about to step onto European soil for the first time and face one of the best youth national teams.
Do not lose (Your team won 5-1)
Reward: +15 XP, +15 Points, +3 Tactical Awareness
Score at least one goal (You scored 3 goals, 1 assist)
Reward: +10 XP, +10 Points, +2 Decision Making
…
Seeing the newly upgraded rewards, my grin widened.
"This was just one match against Portugal, and I already got this much. How much will I gain when I start playing in Europe?"
I selected Reclaim All Rewards.
…
Rewards Claimed!
↑ Level: 1 (76/500 XP)
↑ Points: 120
↑ Decision Making: 60 → 62
↑ Tactical Awareness: 58 → 61
…
As the system processed my rewards, I suddenly felt a small electric shock, almost negligible.
Then, a strange sensation washed over me—a wave of clarity and sharpness, like my brain had been refreshed.
I blinked. What was that?
"Tricera, is it always like this when I receive direct improvements from the system?"
[Tricera]: No, the effect depends on the attribute being improved. Tactical Awareness and Decision Making don't require additional effort to integrate, so the system applies the improvement directly.
"And for physical attributes?"
[Tricera]: That's different. If your body can't naturally handle an immediate upgrade, you'll need specific training to fully absorb the boost. That applies to attributes like Pace, Balance, Agility, and Strength.
I nodded to myself. So even with the system, I couldn't rely purely on these boosts. Hard work was still necessary.
"Not bad," I thought. As long as I train properly, I'll keep improving naturally and maximize the system's benefits.
I closed the system, stretched out on my bed, and finally let sleep take over.
Tomorrow, the AFCON U17 began.