The Cameroonian Football Federation, FECAFOOT, has taken decisive action by suspending 62 players for age fraud, including the youngest member of their January Africa Cup of Nations squad.
Among those suspended is 17-year-old Wilfried Nathan Douala, who was a surprise inclusion in Rigobert Song’s team for the tournament in the Ivory Coast.
FECAFOOT’s official list, released over the weekend, revealed that Douala, the Victoria United skipper, misrepresented his age, leading to his disqualification from Elite League play-off games. While Douala’s true age remains undisclosed, he joins 61 other players facing suspension for concealing their ages.
This move reflects FECAFOOT’s commitment to addressing administrative challenges in Cameroonian football, which have plagued the sport in recent years.
While Song was commended for discovering Douala’s talent in the domestic league, the midfielder failed to make an appearance in the tournament as Cameroon exited in the last 16 against Nigeria.
This isn’t the first time Cameroon has faced such issues. In 2022, the federation summoned 44 players from eight clubs over age or identity concerns, underlining president Samuel Eto’o’s determination to tackle the problem. Similarly, in January 2023, 21 members of their Under-17 squad were disqualified for the same reasons.
Age fraud remains a persistent issue in African football, casting a shadow over the continent’s international achievements, especially at junior levels.
FECAFOOT’s latest action signals a continued effort to uphold integrity and fairness in the sport, aiming to eradicate age-related controversies that undermine the game’s credibility.
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