62 Cameroon Football Players Penalized, Including Youngest in AFCON
Summary: The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has temporarily suspended 62 players over allegations of identity fraud and concealing their true ages.
Reports from the West African nation indicate that the suspended players are suspected of falsifying their identities and hiding their real ages.
FECAFOOT released an official list over the past weekend, and among the suspended players is Nathan Wilfred Douala, a midfielder from Victoria United who was included in Cameroon’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). According to the midfielder’s passport, he is only 17 years old, but his appearance strongly suggests he is older.
FECAFOOT stated that the captain of Victoria United misrepresented his age, resulting in his removal from the Scholar’s League playoff matches.
Despite being included in Cameroon’s AFCON 2023 squad, Douala did not play any matches during the tournament earlier this year.
Football fans worldwide had already raised doubts about the player’s age during the AFCON tournament held in January-February, as he appeared older than 17 as claimed.
Douala’s actual age remains undisclosed, but he joins 61 other players who have also been suspended from playing for concealing their ages.
Out of the 19 teams in Cameroon’s top league, only 4 have not had any players suspected of identity fraud and concealing their true ages.
The involved clubs have the right to provide the necessary documentation and appeal against the punishment within 72 hours.
In the summer of 2022, the Cameroon Football Federation summoned 44 players from eight different clubs to address allegations of age or identity deception, with federation president Samuel Eto’o aiming to eradicate the issue in the Central African country.
Six months later, in January 2023, a new scandal emerged after 21 players from their Under-17 squad were suspended due to the same issue.
Age fraud has long been a problem for African football, with many of their international youth successes overshadowed by allegations of overage players.
