Age Fraud Debate Resurfaces at UNIFFAC U17 Tournament

As the UNIFFAC U-17 competition begins, player age issues are once again in the news. Allegations of age fraud have surfaced, with certain clubs allegedly fielding youngsters who are too young.

Following the Central African Republic coach's questioning of Cameroon's team and his suggestion that several of its players were significantly older than permitted, the dispute grew. In response, Gabon U-17 coach Jean Joseph Ngoma distanced himself from the debate.

"I'm not a doctor, I only deal with the technical side, the rest doesn't concern me," Ngoma said.

He underlined how crucial MRI exams are for confirming athletes' ages and guaranteeing fair play.

"A team's issue would be if they brought 20-year-olds. However, the physicians guarantee equity. I'm content that my players are in the 14–16 age range," he continued.

Officials from UNIFFAC are hopeful that the medical examinations would allay concerns and avert another crisis. The argument is unlikely to go away anytime soon, though, given the history of age deception in African youth competitions.