Wilfried Nathan Douala, the youngest member of Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, has found himself in the midst of controversy as he is among 62 players suspended for age fraud allegations.
Douala’s inclusion in Cameroon’s AFCON squad earlier this year raised eyebrows due to his lack of international caps and his status as a player for Victoria United in Cameroon’s first division. Despite being uncapped, Douala’s official registration for the AFCON stated his birthday as May 15, 2006, making him the tournament’s youngest player at just 17 years old.
However, Wilfried Nathan Douala now faces suspension after being named on a list of 62 players accused of falsifying their ages by the Cameroonian Football Federation.
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This scandal extends beyond Douala, with 15 clubs in Cameroon having at least one player suspended for age fraud.
Despite not making an appearance during AFCON matches, Douala was often seen dancing with his teammates on the way to the dressing room.
This is not the first time Cameroon has dealt with age fraud allegations. Last year, 21 members of the country’s 30-player squad failed age tests ahead of the Under-17 AFCON tournament in Algeria.
In response to the recurring issue, Samuel Eto’o, president of Cameroon’s football governing body, has mandated age tests for every player to “put an end to the tampering with civil status records which have, in the past, tarnished the image of Cameroon football.”
These age tests involve MRI scans of the wrist to assess bone fusion in the joint, aiming to ensure the accuracy of players’ ages and maintain the integrity of the sport.
