The renowned Indomitable Lions, boasting an impressive five AFCON tournament victories, now face the possibility of being sidelined from the next two editions.
Cameroon’s eligibility for future Africa Cup of Nations competitions is in jeopardy following a recent crackdown on players found to have misrepresented their ages within the country’s football federation structure, including one member of the 2023 AFCON squad.
FECAFOOT, Cameroon’s football federation, took action by suspending Wilfried Douala, a player selected for the 2023 AFCON held in Ivory Coast, along with 62 others, citing administrative irregularities such as double identity and age falsification.
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This suspension comes amid allegations of personal information falsification, including name and date of birth, casting doubt on Cameroon’s participation in forthcoming AFCON tournaments.
Douala’s surprising inclusion in Cameroon’s AFCON squad raised suspicions even before the tournament began. Hailing from the lesser-known second division club Victoria United and lacking prior international experience, Douala’s age also came under scrutiny, sparking speculation on social media about the authenticity of his claimed teenage status.
Investigations by French daily Le Monde revealed concerning details about Douala’s past, alleging that the Indomitable Lions’ “youngest player at AFCON” had previously competed in the Cameroonian league under a different identity and was purportedly over 21 years old.
Despite inquiries, FECAFOOT opted not to address these irregularities before the AFCON tournament commenced, but the tournament regulations stipulate severe consequences for such violations. If fraud or forgery is confirmed, the national association risks suspension from participating in the subsequent two editions of the AFCON.
Additionally, any administrative errors in player registration could lead to exclusion from the following edition, further complicating Cameroon’s footballing future.
As news of Douala’s suspension and its implications reverberates, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been called upon for comment, leaving the footballing community awaiting their response and pondering the potential repercussions for Cameroon’s footballing endeavors.