Cameroon: 2023 AFCON youngest player 'caught age-cheating', 61 other players suspended

The Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has revealed a roster of 62 players, which notably includes the youngest participant from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, who have been barred from competing in the domestic season playoffs due to allegations of age falsification.

Before the kickoff of the AFCON in the Ivory Coast, midfielder Wilfred Nathan Douala attracted attention as doubts arose regarding his age, listed at just 17. Many social media users questioned the credibility of his age, as he appeared older than his purported years.

These suspicions have now been substantiated as Douala, the youngest contender at the AFCON, finds himself among 62 players officially excluded from further participation in the Cameroonian top-tier league this season due to "irregularities in identification and ages," as reported by BSN Sport.

This incident isn't unprecedented in Cameroon. In January 2023, FECAFOOT announced the suspension of 21 out of 30 players selected for the U17 AFCON, also on grounds of age falsification. This action followed a round of MRI tests aimed at assessing bone development to cross-reference players' ages accurately.

In an official statement, FECAFOOT attributed these measures to President Samuel Eto'o's directive, expressing concern about the reputational damage caused by age fraud within the football organization, according to SoFoot.

"This action is the result of rigorous instructions given by the president of FECAFOOT acting under the mandate from COMEX, in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status which has, in the past, tarnished the image of the umbrella body of Cameroonian football."

Despite being selected for the Cameroon squad at the recent AFCON, Douala did not feature in any matches during the tournament.