Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has taken action against 62 players ahead of its upcoming domestic season playoffs, banning them due to allegations of age cheating.
Among those barred from participation is Wilfred Nathan Douala, who gained attention as the youngest participant in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Doubts surrounding his age, listed as 17 years old, led to suspicions of age falsification, prompting scrutiny from social media users who noted that he appeared older than his documented age.
Reports from BSN Sport confirm that Douala, the youngest participant at the AFCON, has been excluded from Cameroon’s top-tier league this season, joining 62 other players. They were barred due to concerns about “irregularities in identification and ages.”
This incident mirrors previous events in Cameroon.
In January 2023, FECAFOOT suspended 21 players out of 30 selected for the U17 AFCON due to suspected age falsification.
This decision came after MRI tests were conducted to accurately assess bone development and verify players’ ages.
FECAFOOT attributed these measures to President Samuel Eto’o’s directives, expressing worries about the reputational damage caused by age fraud in football.
This was reported by SoFoot.
“This action stems from strict instructions provided by the president of FECAFOOT, acting under the mandate from COMEX, to eradicate the manipulation of civil status that has previously tarnished the reputation of the umbrella body of Cameroonian football.”
Although Douala was chosen for the Cameroon squad at the recent AFCON, he did not play in any matches during the tournament.