Cameroon Under-23 side wrapped up their training camp in Spain with a narrow 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves B, as preparations continue for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The friendly, played on Monday, provided a valuable test for the U23 Lions against a tactically organised Spanish fourth-division side.
Despite creating several chances, the Cameroonian team had to remain patient before eventually finding a breakthrough late in the match.
Kylian Ebilegue scored the decisive goal, producing a moment of individual quality inside the box.
The forward executed a double feint before firing a right-footed shot past the goalkeeper to secure the win.
Throughout the encounter, Cameroon faced a disciplined opponent who limited clear openings, particularly in the early stages.
Bassirou Nkoto and his teammates attempted to break down the defence with sustained attacking efforts, but struggled to convert their opportunities.
The result ensured that Guy Feutchine’s side ended their European training camp on a positive note, having used the trip to build cohesion and test tactical approaches ahead of competitive fixtures.
Speaking after the match, head coach Feutchine expressed satisfaction with both the performance and the players’ commitment during the camp.
“As we said at the start of the training camp, this was the moment we’d all been waiting for, given the hard work we’ve put in. I want to congratulate the boys on their attitude, which they’ve shown since their arrival.
“Regarding the match, they followed the game plan perfectly. They did exactly what we asked of them, both offensively and defensively.
“We also want to congratulate the opposing team, who pushed us to our limits to secure this victory. It’s always a bit difficult to play against a team with established patterns of play. We had no information about our opponents.
“We had to try and open ourselves up. That’s what we had to do for the first 25 minutes, and little by little, the boys were able to relax and implement our game plan. There was a lot of satisfaction, but also a few shortcomings.”
The coach also highlighted the importance of tactical adjustments made during the match, particularly at half-time, as the team adapted to the challenge posed by their opponents.
“We made adjustments at half-time, as we do in every match. Everyone who came on respected the instructions because from the bench, they could already see what their teammates were being criticized for,” said the coach of the U23 Lions.
For Cameroon, the match served as a key step in their preparations for upcoming continental qualifiers.
The coaching staff will be encouraged by the team’s discipline and ability to execute instructions, while also identifying areas that require further improvement.
With the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations on the horizon, the U23 Lions will look to build on this result as they continue their development and aim to compete strongly on the continental stage.
