Where they will continue preparations for the African cup of nations coming up next march 18. The national under 17 football squad will leave for Morocco tomorrow to continue training ahead of the 8th edition of the African Cup of Nations to take place in Algeria. The lions who have been training in Yaounde have so far played six friendly matches, won four and drew two, scoring a total of 11 goals and conceding only 2.

While in Morocco to acclimatise with the Maghrebian weather, the Cadet lions will play two friendly matches with Moroccan clubs sides. According to the assistant team coach, Ebwelle Bertin, the objective of the squad is to gain a place on the final podium. It is worthy to mention that the first four teams of the tournament, will qualify for the under 17 World cup to take place in Nigeria.

Eight countries are taking part in the competition including host Algeria, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Niger, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. The teams are drawn into two groups. Cameroon was drawn in group a alongside Gambia, Guinea and Algeria. Cameroon plays their first match on March 19 against host country, Algeria.

The competition will be without defending champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria who were bundled out at the first round by Benin. Nigeria is not the only dominant force as far as cadet football is concerned to be absent from the tournament as fellow two-time winners; the Black Starlets of Ghana will also be missing for the first time since 2005.

Gambia edged past the Starlets on the away goal rule after both sides were tied 3-3. Three teams who will be making their debut at the biennial championship namely Algeria, Malawi and Niger. Malawi's Junior Flames brushed past their Namibian counterparts 8-3 on aggregate whilst the Young Mena of Niger squeezed past the Baby Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire on the away goals after both legs were tied to all. This will be the first time the biennial championship will be held in North Africa since its inception in 1995 in Cameroon. The tournament will take place from March 19 to April 3, 2009.