- Cameroon suspends some players for age fraud
- Wilfred Nathan Douala suspended by FECAFOOT
- This might see the suspended players lose their future career
Cameroonian midfielder Wilfried Douala is among the players suspended by FECAFOOT over an age fraud that has been facing the country for the third time in a row.
Douala was in the squad that played at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations recently hosted by Ivory Coast and his age has been a controversy as he says he is seventeen though his physical looks tell different, disqualifying him from appearing in the Elite League’s play-off.
Douala and 61 others have been suspended for concealing their ages after FECAFOOT aims to lessen the administrative issues previously faced during and after the end of the Cameroonian football season.
Cameroon has faced the age fraud challenge severally as in 2022, their football federation summoned 44 players from eight different clubs for a hearing into alleged age or identity, cheating.
Cameroon football president Samuel Eto’o is keen on eradicating such problems of age fraud in the central African country though the problem has been repetitive as after six months, there was another incident where 21 members of their Under-17 squad were disqualified over the issue.
African football has faced the age fraud issue for a long time with many of their international successes at the junior level clouded by allegations of over-age players.
Wilfried Nathan Douala suspended over age fraud
Douala attracted attention as the youngest member of Cameroon’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad listed as 17 years old with investigations revealing discrepancies, leading to his suspension.
Wilfried Nathan Douala. Photo/Kessiya
FECAFOOT discovered a difference in his age record, suspecting him of having a double identity and he never got to play a single match during the recent Africa Cup of Nations that was held in Ivory Coast. This incident highlighted a recurring issue of age cheating in Cameroonian football.
What repercussions could accrue from this age fraud for Douala?
Due to the controversy surrounding the player, his fate could involve several repercussions. Already, he has been served with suspension which could range from a temporary ban to a permanent one depending on the severity of the offence and any previous transgressions.
Also, the authorities might further investigate this case to determine the extent of his involvement and whether there was an external influence. With this, there is a possibility of legal action depending on the laws in Cameroon regarding age falsification in sports.
The incident has with no doubt tarnished the player’s reputation and could potentially hinder his future football career.
Ways to curb age fraud in sports
The authorities have several ways of fighting age fraud and first, they need to establish a centralized system for verifying birth certificates and other age documents, and could also implement mandatory age verification tests.
It is also an important routine to conduct surprise age verification tests throughout a player’s career, not only at the entry-level. Encouraging collaboration between sports bodies and government agencies to share information and identify potential discrepancies.
It is also important to raise awareness about the negative consequences of age cheating, targeting athletes, coaches, parents and the wider community and inculcating the values of sportsmanship and ethical conduct within sports institutions, also encourages young athletes to focus on genuine development to avoid ruining their careers.
Samuel Eto’os’s stance on the age fraud issue?
Samuel Eto’o is the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation [FECAFOOT] and has been vocal about tackling the issue of age fraud in Cameroonian football. He recognizes the matter as a serious concern that tarnishes the sport’s image and also hinders the development of genuine talent.
Wilfried Nathan Douala. Photo/X.com
He has implemented more strict measures to address the issue like mandatory age verification tests to determine the biological age of players, particularly in the youth teams. Following the recent tests, he approved the disqualification of 32 players including Douala.
He also wants to prioritize genuine talent development through proper training and fair competition. This will help in eliminating age fraud and protect the integrity of the sport.
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