Cameroon made history at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025, securing their first-ever victory in the competition by defeating the Dominican Republic 86-84. This landmark win occurred during the Classification 13-16 action in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was a testament to the team's resilience, as they rallied from an 18-point deficit.

The decisive moment of the game came with just 6.2 seconds remaining when Hermann Bel, despite having scored only one field goal throughout the match, sank a crucial go-ahead put-back basket. This pivotal shot broke the tie and secured the narrow victory for the African side.

Several players delivered standout performances contributing to this historic achievement. Noe Bom led the scoring with 19 points, while Franck Belibi and Wilf Kingue each contributed 18 points. Kingue also showcased his versatility by dishing out 8 assists. Amadou Seini was a dominant presence in the paint, grabbing 14 rebounds in addition to his 6 points. Ronny Ewanke also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The significance of the victory was deeply felt by the team. Franck Belibi expressed the profound meaning of the win, stating, "It means a lot for Cameroon, it means a lot for this country to come here for the first time and go through some ups and downs and finally get a win. It really felt great." Head coach Steve Tchiengang echoed this sentiment of relief and commendation for his players: "It feels good to get that win for those kids. They worked so hard and get going. This is a big relief for them." Tchiengang further highlighted the challenges of winning and praised his team's unwavering resilience despite previous setbacks.

Indeed, Cameroon had faced several heartbreaking losses earlier in the tournament, underscoring their fighting spirit even in defeat. In the group stage, they came agonizingly close to a victory against Australia, leading by six points with only 50 seconds left, only to eventually lose 101-96 in double overtime. They then squandered a 14-point lead in the Round of 16, falling 86-82 to Israel, and subsequently suffered a defeat to Argentina in Classification 9-16 action. Today's triumph, however, finally brought the long-awaited victory, validating their perseverance. Cameroon is now set to compete for 13th place against the winner of the match between China and Jordan.