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ANOTHER country is caught up in an age fraud scandal as Chad are kicked out of Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after failed MRI tests… after DR Congo withdrew and Cameroon had to replace 32 players to compete
- Chad were disqualified from regional qualifiers for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations
- It came on the eve of their first match against Republic of the Congo on Thursday
- DR Congo were forced to withdraw after 25 of 40 players failed MRI tests
- Cameroon also had to replace 32 overage players in order to participate
Chad has become the latest African country caught up in the age cheating scandal after they were disqualified from the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Their squad was subjected to Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] scans to ensure nobody was over-age.
But they were disqualified on the eve of the qualifiers getting underway, reportedly because of just one case.
It comes after Cameroon, which is hosting the matches, had to remove 32 players from their squad after federation president Samuel Eto’o demanded the MRI scans.
Earlier this week, DR Congo also had to withdraw after 25 of 40 players they’d selected were found to be overage, leading to their withdrawal.
The withdrawal of Chad leaves only Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic left to play the qualifiers, which run until January 24.
Republic of the Congo were awarded a walkover after their game with Chad was called off, while Cameroon beat Central African Republic 4-0 in their first game.
Two teams are due to progress to the finals in Algeria in April.
BSN Sports reported that seven members of the Chad squad initially failed the MRI tests with some uncertainty over Ousmane Diallo, who they believed had been deemed eligible.
However, Chad were then informed of their disqualification the night before they had been due to kick-off the qualifiers.
The country’s football federation vice-president Nair Abakar said: ‘CAF [the African federation] announced a disqualification at 10.23pm, something that is difficult to digest.
‘If you put yourself in our place, you will see how difficult it is to accept this decision.’
Democratic Republic of Congo withdrew from the regional qualifiers earlier this week.
A statement from the Congolese football federation (FECOFA) said they were forced to withdraw after ‘only 15 were eligible and 25 failed of the 40 players submitted for MRI testing.’
However, of the 15 players who passed the age test, the statement also revealed that ‘only five managed to complete the necessary administrative formalities’ 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 take part in the qualifiers for the U17 AFCON.
Unlike those who failed, the 30 players have all passed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests in Douala.
The tests are used to determine a player’s age by scanning their wrists and measuring bone growth.
Cameroon’s governing body, Fecafoot revealed in a statement that Eto’o had given ‘strict instructions’ for the tests to take place ‘in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status records which have, in the past, tarnished the image of Cameroon football.’
They added: ‘Fecafoot urges all actors, in particular educators, to ensure that the ages by category are respected.’
Age fraud has been a long-running concern for African football, with many of their international successes at junior level clouded by allegations of over-age players.
Accusations have regularly been made but there has seemingly been little attempt to investigate it from the authorities.
Cameroon have twice been African champions at Under-17 level and Fecafoot previously blocked 14 players from competing in the Under-17 AFCON tournament in 2017 after failing MRI tests, introduced by FIFA at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup.
In the summer, Cameroon’s Football Federation summoned 44 players from eight different clubs for a hearing into alleged age or identity cheating, highlighting their attempts to deal with the problem.
After the first 21 out of the 32 players failed tests, Fecafoot outlined their nation’s position following the failed tests.
They had said: ‘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.’
This is expensive in terms
S of footballers loosing their opportunities ….however ,current checks obviously aren’t good enough off the football organisation which is ultimately responsible to predate these tests to avoid this disappointment later on .