Eleven More Under-17 Players Fail Age Tests in Cameroon Football

Another 11 Under-17 players in Cameroon have failed age tests, bringing the total number up to 32, uncovering a growing age fraud problem in the country’s football.

The African nation’s Under-17 team are gearing up for the UNIFACC tournament, contested by the Under-17 sides of Central African Football Federations’ Union countries.

Fecafoot’s president, Samuel Eto’o, has emphasized the need for all players selected for the youth side to undergo MRI tests to tackle the rising issue of age fraud in the country.

Earlier this week, 21 members of their Under-17 squad were disqualified after failing the tests, marking a setback in the efforts to address the problem. Furthermore, 11 new players called up as replacements have also failed tests, according to BBC Sport Africa.

The tests involve scanning players’ wrists and measuring bone growth to determine their age.  

Fecafoot released a statement noting that Eto’o had given ‘strict instructions’ for the tests to take place in order to combat the manipulation of civil status records, which has previously tarnished the image of Cameroon football. The statement also urged all stakeholders, particularly educators, to ensure the proper adherence to age categories.