CAF Executive Committee has approved a recommendation by the CAF Youth Organizing Committee and CAF Medical Organizing Committee to amend Article 27 of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.
Age cheating has been a common practice in African football to the extent that players in amateur leagues are known to have two ages, the football age, and the real age.
Unlike the previous provision that stated that “If after performing the age eligibility test (MRI) for a participating team and one (1) player was found non-eligible, the participating team will be disqualified,” the number has been changed.
Liberia was one of the last victims of the rule after the Lone Star U17 was disqualified when two out of the 20 players on the squad were found non-eligible to participate in the WAFU U17 tournament, a tournament which serves as a qualifier for the AFCON U17.
The approved Regulation: Article 27 now reads:
27.1 For the qualifying phase, an eligibility test will be compulsorily performed for all the participating teams before the matches start.
27.2 The test will be performed according to CAF Protocol in a health facility duly accredited centre where there is an MRI apparatus (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
27.3 CAF reserve the right to make the eligibility test (MRI) as well during the final phase for the twelve teams qualified for the tournament. The cost of the MRI test will be covered by CAF.
27.4. If after performing the eligibility test (MRI) for a participating team and four (4) or more of its players are found ineligible, the participating team will be disqualified.
27.5. If, after performing an MRI test for a participating team, one (1), two (2), or three (3) of its players are found ineligible, the said player(s) will not be allowed to participate in the competition. The concerned team will be allowed to participate in the competition but is not authorized to replace the ineligible player(s).
27.6. The following procedures shall be followed:
(i) All participating teams are expected to arrive five (5) days before the start of the competition. The host association shall cover the related costs.
(ii) The participating teams may be subjected to MRI tests, to be conducted at the earliest five (5) days before the start of the competition. CAF reserves the right to conduct an MRI Test before or during the competition.
(iii) Any request for a second reading for a player found to be ineligible shall be addressed to CAF by email no later than 3 hours following notification of the outcome of the first reading.’’
This modification comes into effect from the date of notification of this decision and will be applied in the final tournament of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria 2023.
