By Etienne Didier ONANA – ANAC News – Photos Thomas DJONOU
Yaoundé, September 12, 2026

I. GROUP STAGE: THE MERCY RULE LAW AND FIRST SURPRISES

The group stage confirmed the supremacy of the favorites while strictly respecting the IBSA rule (match stopped at 10-point gap).

Men’s Category:
The tone was set from the first match. Promhandicam Sports Association of the Centre, led by the powerful throws of Luc Yomby, crushed the North-West (Abakwa Boys of Bamenda) 12-02. Match stopped early, in accordance with the 10-point gap rule. The Centre team, weakened by the recent death of its emblematic player AWA Patrick to whom tribute was paid, showed its thirst for revenge.

Same sentence for the Far North, led by Oscar Bouba, former athletics champion. Despite their beautiful fluorescent green kits and black shorts, they lost 12-02 against Promhandicam, whose Centre plenipotentiary gave no chance.

The most contested matches pitted Littoral (ASFISA/CEFISAC) against West (CISPAM of Dschang/Bafoussam). At half-time (03-04), too many balls lost for ASFISA. Littoral comeback, but CISPAM regained composure and won at the last second 08-07. The return match confirms the rivalry: 09-04 for Littoral.

The Abakwa Boys # Far North match was the most balanced: 5-5 seconds before the break, the Abakwa Boys always start with a bang but get caught. Final score 08-09 for Far North.

Official Men’s Ranking (IBSA Rules applied):
1st: Promhandicam (Centre) – 6 pts, +20
2nd: Littoral (ASFISA/CEFISAC) – 4 pts
3rd: West (CISPAM) – 2 pts
4th: North-West (Abakwa Boys) – 1 pt
5th: Far North – Eliminated

Women’s Category: Less data in group stage, but the beauty of the kits was highlighted.

II. SEMI-FINALS: EMOTION, DRAMA AND CONFIRMATION

Men’s Bracket:

Semi-final 1: Littoral # West (CISPAM)
Match under high emotional intensity. 6-7 at half-time for CISPAM. Final turnaround: Littoral qualified 08-07. Littoral’s mental strength made the difference.

Semi-final 2: Promhandicam # Abakwa Boys
Usual scenario for Bamenda: opening the score, then collapsing. 2-2, 3-2, 5-2 for Promhandicam. Half-time: 09-04. After the break, Abakwa Boys leak points: 14-04… The match will not go to term. The war cry rings out: “This is Yaoundé!”

Women’s Bracket:

Semi-final 1: Far North # West
1-3 at half-time. West rolls on: final score 05-11 for West (CISPAM).

Semi-final 2: Centre (Friendship Queen’s Ladies) # North-West (Abakwa Girls)
The shock. 5-5 at half-time. The bursts of Judith Kenekou (Centre) had no effect. Abakwa Girls locked down and took the lead: 10-07. Tears and desolation in the Yaoundé camp who certainly underestimated their opponents and joy of President Fidélis Tancho whose men’s team finished 4th, who was supposed to return Saturday night will stay in Yaoundé for the final.

III. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND LESSONS LEARNED

A. The Final Posters – Sunday

Final presided over by the Representative of MINSEP, the National Paralympic Committee, the Bureau of the Cameroonian Federation of Sports for the Visually Impaired (FECASDEV) and ANAC.

• WOMEN: Abakwa Girls of Bamenda # CISPAM of Bafoussam
• MEN: Littoral (CEFISAC) # Centre (Promhandicam)

B. Statistical Analysis

• Total Mercy Rule (10 pts): 3 matches – Demonstration of Promhandicam’s superiority
• Most offensive team: Promhandicam – 38 goals in 3 matches, average 12.6/match
• Most fragile team: Abakwa Boys – Leads then systematically cracks
• Closest match: 8-7 and 8-9 – Littoral-West and Far North-Abakwa
• X Factor: Luc Yomby / Judith Kenekou – Power vs Technique

C. Lessons Learned

1. Technical Lesson: Cameroonian goalball remains very physical. Expressions heard: “Block out, play, out…”. Powerful throwing technique prevails, but West’s defense shows that positioning is decisive.
2. Psychological Lesson: The Abakwa Boys syndrome (strong start, weak finish) is mental. Psychological work is urgent.
3. Organizational Lesson: Promhandicam, even in mourning for AWA Patrick, showed exemplary resilience. This is the structuring model to follow.
4. Strategic Lesson: Among girls, North-West creates the surprise. Decentralization is bearing fruit. Investment in women’s goalball in West and North-West is needed.

See you Sunday for the crowning.