Age fraud scandal rages on as DR Congo withdraw from the U17 Africa Cup of Nations
>
Age fraud scandal continues as DR Congo withdraws from U17 Africa Cup of Nations after 25 of 40 players FAILed MRI tests… hot on the heels of the saga that rocked Cameroon with 32 footballers who failed the tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o
- DR Congo withdraws from AFCON Under-17 qualifying tournament
- In a statement they revealed that 25 players out of 40 had failed MRI age tests.
- It comes after the saga also rocked Cameroon which had a total of 32 failed tests.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo withdrew from a regional qualifying tournament for the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after 25 of the 40 players failed the mandatory age tests.
It comes after saga rocked Cameroon earlier this month, with a total of 32 players failing tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o, president of the country’s soccer association.
A statement from the Congolese football federation (FECOFA) said they were forced to withdraw after “only 15 were eligible and 25 failed out of 40 players undergoing MRI tests.”
DR Congo withdraws from U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after 25 players fail age tests
However, of the 15 players who passed the age test, the statement also revealed that “only five managed to complete the necessary administrative procedures” that would have allowed them to travel to Cameroon.
bbc sport africa reported that Cameroon found 30 replacement players in a race against time to participate in the AFCON Under-17 qualifiers.
Unlike those who failed, all 30 players passed all MRI tests in Douala.
The tests are used to determine a player’s age by scanning their wrists and measuring bone growth.
The Indomitable Lions will not be able to start the tournament on January 12 as scheduled due to the withdrawal of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Four countries – Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and the Central African Republic – will now participate in the qualifying competition, with the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) rescheduling the matches between January 12-24.
Cameroon was forced to find 30 players after 32 also failed MRI tests that had been ordered by the president of the country’s soccer association, Samuel Eto’o.
Two teams will then advance to the final of the Under-17 Nations Cup in April in Algeria.
UNIFFAC told the BBC: ‘It’s an organizational nightmare because we have to quickly come up with a new format involving four nations instead of the original five.
“We are happy that after the MRIs, the four nations now have a team.”
Cameroon’s governing body, Fecafoot, revealed in a statement that Eto’o had given “strict instructions” for the tests to be carried out “in order to put an end to the manipulation of civil status records that, in the past, they tarnished the image of Cameroon football.’
They added: ‘Fecafoot urges all actors, in particular educators, to respect the ages by category.’
Age fraud has been a long-standing concern for African football, with many of its international successes at youth level marred by accusations from over-age players.
Accusations have been made regularly, but there have apparently been few attempts to investigate it by the authorities.
Age or identity fraud remains a major source of concern for African football as a whole.
Cameroon is a two-time African champion at Under-17 level and Fecafoot previously blocked 14 players from competing in the AFCON Under-17 tournament in 2017 after failing MRI tests, introduced by FIFA at the Under-17 World Cup. 17 of 2009.
In the summer, the Cameroon Football Federation called 44 players from eight different clubs for a hearing on alleged age or identity cheating, highlighting their attempts to address the problem.
After the first 21 of the 32 players failed the tests, Fecafoot outlined his nation’s position following the failed tests.
They had said: ‘The Cameroon Football Federation informs the public that, as part of the preparations for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament, a qualifier for the upcoming Under-17 African Nations Championship, 21 players out of the 30 currently in training have failed in the result of the MRI tests.
‘They were immediately removed from the group. Arrangements were immediately made for its replacement.
‘This action is the result of strict instructions given by the President of FECAFOOT acting under the mandate of COMEX, in order to put an end to the manipulation of civil status records that, in the past, have tarnished the image of the higher body . Cameroon soccer. FECAFOOT urges all stakeholders, particularly educators, to ensure that age categories are respected.’