Iran's U-18 women's futsal team secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games after achieving an impressive 5-3 victory over Cameroon in the second group stage match.
For Cameroon, which had lost its first match, the encounter was decisive. The African team started the game convincingly, utilizing their physical advantage and fast attacks to capitalize on moments of Iranian carelessness and take a two-goal lead early on.
Nevertheless, the team led by Fatemeh Sharif demonstrated immense character and fighting spirit, managing to turn the tide of the game and secure all three points with a confident 5-3 win.
The goals for Iran were scored by Narges Amirmahseni, who netted a brace, as well as Tanaz Bagherinia, Nafiseh Mohammadi, and Setaeesh Rezaei-Salehi.
Sharif stated: 'I dedicate this victory to the people of Iran, especially the great futsal family, and congratulate everyone on reaching the semi-finals. It was an extremely difficult match. Cameroon came out with everything they had, knowing they needed a result to keep hopes alive. They had a physical advantage over us.'
She added: 'We conceded twice, but my players truly fought for every ball and showed tremendous character to come back into the game.'
By earning three points from Cameroon, Iran accumulated six points and mathematically guaranteed its place among the four finalists of the tournament.
However, Sharif emphasized that her team would quickly shift its focus to the final group stage match against Italy, where they are firmly aiming for first place in the group.
'Our qualification is secured, but the match against Cameroon is behind us. The entire coaching staff and players are focused on the quarter-final match against Italy. Our main goal is to win and take first place in the group, which will give us the best position before the semi-finals,' she said.
Sharif also highly praised her players and acknowledged the support of the coaching staff, the Football Federation, and the Women's Committee, calling this achievement a historic milestone for women's futsal in Iran.
'Reaching the semi-finals is a historic achievement for women's futsal in our country, and its positive impact will be seen in the coming years. The players on this team are invaluable assets with a bright future ahead of them. They will be able to achieve great success over many years and become a solid foundation for the Iranian national team,' she concluded.
