Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) announced that 21 out of 30 players from the Under 17 camp have been removed from the group.
In a statement on Thursday, December 29, FECAFOOT noted that the players failed a test to determine their age.
The Cameroon Football Federation is preparing for the UNIFFAC Limbe 2023 tournament.
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“The Cameroonian Football Federation informs public opinion that as part of the preparations for the Central African Football Federations' Union (UNIFFAC) Limbe 2023 tournament, qualifying for the next African U17 Nations Championship, 21 players out of the 30 currently in training have failed at the outcome of the MRI tests.
“They were immediately removed from the group. Steps were immediately taken for their replacement,” part of the statement read.
It was explained that the exercise was occasioned by the federation's president Samuel Eto’o instructions to stop tampering with civil status records.
In the past, manipulation of civil status records has tarnished the image of the apex body of Cameroon football.
FECAFOOT called upon all actors, focusing mainly on educators, asking them to ensure that the ages by category are respected.
Many of Africa's junior tournaments are marred with allegations of the use of over-age players.
One of the countries that have suffered from the vice is Liberia with its under-17 men's national team thrown out of the qualifiers for the 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, set to take place in April 2023 in Algeria.
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