Cameroon, in trouble: it had to fire 21 players of the Under 17 national team because they were adults

On the threshold of 2023, Cameroon gave the note: disaffected 21 of the 30 called up to the Sub 17 for failing some MRI tests. What’s behind this? These tests will confirm that the players have not passed the age of majority and only a couple were approved…

“The Cameroon Football Federation informs the public that, as part of the preparations for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament, qualification for the next African Nations Under-17 Championship, 21 players out of the 30 currently in training they failed at the end of the MRI tests. They were immediately removed from the group and replaced digitally,” the Cameroonian federation said.

He concluded: “This action is the result of strict instructions given by the President of FECAFOOT on a mandate from COMEX, in order to put an end to the manipulation of civil status records, which has tarnished the image of Cameroonian football maxima in the past. FECAFOOT urges all stakeholders, especially educators, to ensure that age categories are respected.”

Age in African football There has been discussion for years: in 2015, for example, Mauritania decided to withdraw the Under 15 team, suspecting that Sierra Leone – who had beaten them 6-0 – were using older players.

To put an end to this, FIFA imposed some in 2009 MRI test on the wrists Which sheds more light on the situation.

What is done with the wrist test is measure bone maturation of the footballer You cannot verify the exact age with this, but you can know if the player is under 18 with 99% certainty. From this it can be confirmed that the majority of the Cameroonian team were breaking the rule.