Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionnesses Touch Down in Turkey as CHAN Countdown Begins

Cameroon’s women’s volleyball squad landed in Istanbul in the early hours of 3 August, kicking off a training camp that could shape their fortunes at this year’s African Nations Championship.

The delegation left Yaoundé a few days back, departing from Nsimalen International Airport on a journey that will see the Indomitable Lionnesses spend the coming weeks sharpening their game on Turkish soil.

Coach Yende’s players arrived calm and focused, by all accounts, with a quiet confidence that suggests they know exactly what’s at stake. The CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship runs from 23 August to 5 September 2026, and Cameroon will be chasing something they narrowly missed three years ago.

Back in 2023, when Cameroon hosted the tournament in Yaoundé, the Lionnesses finished third. Kenya took the title, Egypt claimed silver, and Cameroon watched the top two step onto the podium ahead of them. That near miss on home soil has clearly stayed with the federation. This time, the ambition isn’t just to compete. It’s to win.

Before the squad even boarded their flight, there was a moment worth noting back home. Turkey’s ambassador to Cameroon, Volkan Öskiper, paid a visit to the team’s camp to offer his support and encouragement. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke to the growing ties between the two countries, and it clearly meant something to a squad about to head into unfamiliar territory for weeks of intensive work.

The Cameroon Volleyball Federation, led by president Bello Bourdanne, has been working closely with the government to make sure the players have everything they need heading into the championship. Turkey was chosen deliberately, giving the team a change of scenery and a chance to test themselves against different teams and styles of play before the real test begins later this month.