Eleven more under-17 players joined the previous 21 members of the Cameroonian team who failed the age tests at the next youth tournament, bringing the total number to 32.
The U-17 team of the African nation is preparing for the UNIFACC tournament, played by the U-17 teams of the countries of the Union of Central African Football Federations.
The president of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, has called for all players selected for his youth team to undergo MRI tests to determine the age of the players in a bid to tackle the growing problem of fraud. age in the country.
It leaves coach Jean Pierre Fiala scrambling to find replacements and in a race against time to field a team for their matches in the UNIFACC tournament.
The tests are used to determine a player’s age by scanning their wrists and measuring bone growth.
In a statement, Fecafoot said 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, tarnished the image of Cameroonian football.”
And they added: ‘Fecafoot urges all stakeholders, particularly educators, to ensure that the ages by category are respected.’
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.
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 issue.
After the initial 21 players were banned, Fecafoot outlined his nation’s position following the failed tests.
