Cameroon: 21 players from a U17 tournament dismissed for age fraud
© FECAFOOT
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
2 mins
The Cameroonian U17 selection must play a qualifying tournament for the next African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Of the 30 players summoned by the coach, 21 were dismissed for not respecting the age limit.
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After having implemented new provisions for controlling the age of players in national teams through scientific tests to detect bone age at the wrist by an MRI, Fecafoot has detected several cases of fraud.
"
The Cameroonian Football Federation informs the public that as part of the preparations for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament, qualifying for the next African Nations Championship for U17s, 21 players out of the 30 currently in training were rejected at the end of MRI tests.
They were immediately removed from the group.
Steps were immediately taken for their digital replacement,
” a statement read.
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This action is the result of strict instructions given by the President of FECAFOOT acting under the mandate of the COMEX, in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status records which have, in the past, tarnished the image of the apex body of the Cameroon soccer.
FECAFOOT urges all actors, in particular educators, to ensure respect for ages by category
, ”adds the body on its website.
Samuel Eto'o, president of FECAFOOT, seems determined to carry out the fight against fraud on the age of footballers.
“
For Africa, it is a real scourge
”
The medical test in question is an MRI of the wrist with which doctors can verify the age of players.
Since 2018, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has requested that MRI examinations be carried out to assess bone age before certain continental competitions reserved for minors.
The average cheating is three years between the real age and the advertised age.
"
For Africa, it's a real scourge
," exasperated the Congolese Constant Omari, former president of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa).
In 2014, Gambia was suspended from all official competition for two years by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The country was accused of having falsified the identities of five of its internationals under the age of 20.
Passed by Sochaux, Nantes, Saint-Etienne, Metz or Lens, the Senegalese international Guirane N'Daw had admitted in 2020 to having lied about his age to make a career in Europe.
"
In Africa, I'm not even saying in Senegal, the player who does not reduce his age will not be able to be professional.
This is the reality, whether we like it or not.
What is certain is that in Senegal, 99% of players have reduced their age,”
he said.
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