The Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) announced that 21 players have failed their Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests as they gear up preparations for the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifiers for the Central African zone P(UNIFFAC).
FECAFOOT stated that 21 out of the 30 players in camp failed the medical examination that can indicate if a player is older than 17 and they have taken immediate steps to replace them.
The press statement read: “The Cameroonian Football Federation informs public opinion that as part of the preparations for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament, qualifying for the next African U17 Nations Championship, 21 players out of the 30 currently on training have failed at the outcome of the MRI tests.
“They were immediately removed from the group. Steps were immediately taken for their replacement. This action is the result of strict instructions given by the President of FECAFOOT acting under the mandate of the COMEX, in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status records which have, in the past, tarnished the image of the apex body of the Cameroon football.
“FECAFOOT urges all actors, in particular educators, to ensure that the ages by category are respected.”
The UNIFFAC qualifiers is set to take place in Cameroon from January 7, 2023 while the U-17 AFCON will be hosted by Algeria from April 8-30.
Two teams will qualify from each zone, with 10 countries already confirmed for the age-grade tournament. The qualified countries are Algeria, Morocco (North Zone), Nigeria, Burkina Faso (West B Zone), Senegal, Mali (West A Zone), Somalia, South Sudan (Central-East Zone) and South Africa, Zambia (South Zone).
