Cameroon Achieves Historic First Win in FIBA U19 World Cup 2025

In a landmark achievement, the Cameroon U19 basketball team secured its first victory in the history of the FIBA U19 World Cup, defeating the Dominican Republic 86-84 in a thrilling classification match held in Lausanne, Switzerland. This historic win marks a significant milestone for the team, which made its debut in the tournament this year.

The match concluded on July 5, 2025, with Hermann Bel emerging as the unlikely hero. Despite scoring only one field goal throughout the game, Bel's crucial put-back basket with just 6.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter broke a tie and clinched the win for Cameroon. This moment underscored the tenacity and spirit of the Cameroonian team, which rallied from a staggering 18-point deficit to secure the victory.

Leading the charge for Cameroon was Noe Bom, who scored 19 points, while teammates Franck Belibi and Wilf Kingue contributed 18 points each, with Kingue also recording 8 assists. Amadou Seini and Ronny Ewanke added valuable support, with Seini notching 6 points and 14 rebounds, and Ewanke achieving a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

This victory comes after a series of near-misses for the Cameroonian squad. In their earlier group stage game against Australia, they led by six points with just 50 seconds left but ultimately fell in double overtime, 101-96. Additionally, Cameroon lost a 14-point lead against Israel in the Round of 16, succumbing to an 86-82 defeat, and faced another loss to Argentina in the classification match for places 9-16.

Head coach Steve Tchiengang expressed pride in his team’s resilience, stating, "This win is not only historic for us but also a testament to the hard work and determination of our players. We have learned from our previous games, and today we showed that we can compete at this level."

The significance of this victory extends beyond the scoreboard. It represents a breakthrough for Cameroonian basketball on the international stage and serves as an inspiration for future generations of athletes in the region. With this win, Cameroon will face the winner of the upcoming match between China and Jordan for the 13th place.

Dr. Michael Nguem, a sports analyst at the University of Yaoundé, noted the implications of this win for basketball in Cameroon, stating, "This victory can catalyze more investment in sports development in the country. It highlights the potential of our young athletes and the importance of providing them with the resources necessary to succeed on the world stage."

As the tournament progresses, the Cameroonian team hopes to build on this momentum, aiming not only for a respectable finish in the World Cup but also for a lasting legacy in the realm of international basketball. The team's journey in the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025 will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, eager to see how far their newfound confidence can take them.