March 12 – The Cameroonian Football Federation has disqualified 62 players from domestic football for providing false age information, including 17-year-old midfielder Wilfried Duala, who was part of their squad at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
Local reports claim some of the accused understated their age by more than 10 years.
One club alone – Yong Sports Academy – had 13 players highlighted for suspension or dual identity.
Douala’s real age hasn’t been disclosed, but he joins 61 other players who have also been suspended for concealing their ages.
The move comes as FECAFOOT aim to lessen the administrative issues previously faced during and after the end of the Cameroonian football season.
In the summer of 2022, Cameroon’s federation summoned 44 players from eight different clubs for a hearing into alleged age or identity cheating, with federation president Samuel Eto’o keen to eradicate the problem.
Six months later there was a fresh scandal after 21 members of their Under-17 squad were disqualified over the issue.
Age fraud has been a long-running concern for African football, with many of their international successes at junior level clouded by allegations of over-age players.
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