Again Cameroon is hit by a fresh age fraud scandal as 21 members of their Under-17 squad were disqualified.
Vantage News gathered that majority of players selected for this year’s UNIFACC tournament – contested by the Under-17 sides of Central African Football Federations’ Union countries – were disqualified after failing MRI tests.
The latest development no doubt has dealt another setback for president Samuel Eto’o efforts at ending the problem in the country.
Recall that Cameroon’s football federation had summoned 44 players from eight different clubs for a hearing into alleged age or identity cheating back in the summer.
The tests are used to determine a player’s age by scanning their wrists and measuring bone growth.
A Cameroon statement read: ‘The Cameroonian Football Federation informs public opinion that as part of the preparations for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament, qualifying for the next African U17 Nations Championship, 21 players out of the 30 currently on training have failed at the outcome of the MRI tests.
‘They were immediately removed from the group. Steps were immediately taken for their replacement.
‘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 football. FECAFOOT urges all actors, in particular educators, to ensure that the ages by category are respected.’
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