Cameroonian soccer legend Samuel Eto’o is determined to tackle a persistent issue in football: age falsification. Cameroon’s qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Under-17s tournament was marred by controversy when 21 out of 30 players originally selected were disqualified after failing age eligibility tests.
These tests, involving MRI scans to assess bone age, revealed that many players were older than their claimed ages.
The situation worsened when 11 of the replacement players also failed the tests, being too old to compete. Eto’o, the President of the Cameroon Football Association (FECAFOOT), implemented these stringent checks to address the problem.
“Players often falsify their ages due to financial pressures, as football offers a path out of poverty for many,” explained Cameroonian journalist Giovanni Wanneh. “These players come from disadvantaged backgrounds and hope that appearing younger can extend their careers and earnings.”
Age verification issues are not new in football. Historical examples include Sir Alf Ramsey, who altered his date of birth to secure a professional contract post-World War II, and Brazilian Carlos Alberto, who was accused of misrepresenting his age during the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
In Africa, such issues are prevalent. Chancel Mbemba, formerly with Newcastle United and now with Marseille, was scrutinized by FIFA for allegedly having multiple birthdates but was eventually cleared. Meanwhile, Ghana and Nigeria, with their seven FIFA Under-17 World Cup titles, face skepticism regarding the ages of their youth players.
“There’s been a tendency to prioritize short-term success over genuine player development,” said Gomezgani Zakazaka of the Malawi Federation. “Success at youth levels doesn’t always translate to the senior game.”
Ivorian journalist Mamadou Gaye suggested that Africa might need to return trophies won under questionable circumstances, as the wins were achieved through age falsification.
The desperate need for opportunities and social mobility in Africa often leads to manipulations, with players and their families seeing soccer as a rare chance for advancement.
In countries like Cameroon, where domestic soccer often lacks financial stability, Eto’o is working to introduce a minimum wage for players in local leagues to improve conditions. Despite efforts to reform, the temptation to alter age records persists, driven by the lack of reliable income and the allure of European contracts.
Efforts to address these issues include adopting digital record-keeping and the use of FIFA Connect, a system that registers players with a unique ID to prevent tampering. However, challenges remain, such as inadequate birth certificates and manual record-keeping.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has implemented MRI scans as a tool to verify eligibility. While these scans are not perfect age determinations, they provide a baseline for eligibility. However, they are more reliable for boys than girls due to differences in bone growth patterns.
Cameroon’s proactive approach, including testing players well in advance, allowed them to replace ineligible players and secure their place in the tournament. This approach, coupled with the use of digital tools like FIFA Connect, aims to curb age cheating and enforce fair play.
Zakazaka and Gaye both highlight the importance of transparency and rigorous checks to eradicate age falsification. They believe that ongoing reforms and technological advancements will eventually lead to a cleaner and more honest system in African football.