Cameroon Suspends 17-Year-Old AFCON Star, 61 Others For Age Falsification

[Lolly]

This is what Nigeria needs to do. We need to do a clear out and reset the clock. Too many players in our league and youth teams using false ages.

Cameroon Suspends 17-Year-Old AFCON Star, 61 Others For Age Falsification

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 3:21:19 WAT

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has suspended 62 players after finding evidence they had been lying about their ages, in some cases by over a decade.

It will be noted that one of the highest-profile players caught up in the bombshell controversy is Wilfried Nathan Douala, the 17-year-old AFCON 2023 star.

The Victoria United midfielder featured for the Indomitable Lions at the last Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where he was incredibly billed as being just 17 years old.

However, FECAFOOT’s investigation has found Douala’s true age according to a viral post on social media, with the player one of 62 suspended domestically for “double identities” over false ages.

“These 62 players, including Douala, were suspended for double identity: they are suspected of having concealed their true age,” the post stated in part.

Douala, who became an overnight star at AFCON 2023 before returning to Victoria United, has seen his burgeoning career thrown into turmoil by the revelations.

The age deceptions raise huge integrity issues for FECAFOOT and CAF, with Douala likely to face a lengthy ban for competing at the international level under pretences.

The scandal surrounding Douala’s age fraud has shattered the image of the young prodigy, exposing the complexities and controversies that often accompany the rise of football talent in Africa.

Despite initial acclaim, doubts surrounding Douala’s age have cast a shadow over his achievements and raised questions about the authenticity of his performances on the field.

[Lolly]

[packerland]

When we said that man was old people started bringing up a few rare white players that are young but look old. Now his own country people have accused him of falsifying his age.

[mcal]

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

[Damunk]

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

Mcal my brother… your very question - innocent as it might seem - demonstrates how virtually all of us have a distorted sense of right and wrong.

Basically, lying=cheating, and the fact that his false age does not give him an advantage on the senior field should not blind you to the fact that he is a cheat. That your vision of cheating is limited and selective tells you that even you have been affected - or is it infected - by the Nigerian Factor.

The guy will now cheat his way into the books of an unsuspecting club side that thinks they are investing in a new exciting young Cameroonian talent.
Remember Philip Osondu and Stanley Okoro - another Osondu-like fella some years later - that scammed their way into Europe only to be found out.

In Nigeria more than most other places, ’the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ is generally surplus to requirements.

[YUJAM]

Terrible reasoning on this one mcal.

Anyway, the guy used a fake identity to win his AFCON place. He previously played in the Cameroonian league under a different name and was 21 at the time.

While I am not the biggest Etoo fan, he deserves praise for this. In many cases, FAs in Africa have been complicit in age fraud but he's gone against that trend.

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

[Sleaky72]

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

Mcal my brother… your very question - innocent as it might seem - demonstrates how virtually all of us have a distorted sense of right and wrong.

Basically, lying=cheating, and the fact that his false age does not give him an advantage on the senior field should not blind you to the fact that he is a cheat. That your vision of cheating is limited and selective tells you that even you have been affected - or is it infected - by the Nigerian Factor.

The guy will now cheat his way into the books of an unsuspecting club side that thinks they are investing in a new exciting young Cameroonian talent.
Remember Philip Osondu and Stanley Okoro - another Osondu-like fella some years later - that scammed their way into Europe only to be found out.

In Nigeria more than most other places, ’the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ is generally surplus to requirements.

Chief, I’m almost speechless at the things that some of our forumers choose to defend.
Kudos to you for actually taking the time

[Lolly]

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

Mcal my brother… your very question - innocent as it might seem - demonstrates how virtually all of us have a distorted sense of right and wrong.

Basically, lying=cheating, and the fact that his false age does not give him an advantage on the senior field should not blind you to the fact that he is a cheat. That your vision of cheating is limited and selective tells you that even you have been affected - or is it infected - by the Nigerian Factor.

The guy will now cheat his way into the books of an unsuspecting club side that thinks they are investing in a new exciting young Cameroonian talent.
Remember Philip Osondu and Stanley Okoro - another Osondu-like fella some years later - that scammed their way into Europe only to be found out.

In Nigeria more than most other places, ’the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ is generally surplus to requirements.

I have always said it that this mcal chap na strange fellow. Haba!

Presenting falsified documents (passport, driving licence etc that includes your date of birth) is a crime in any country and should be punished by law.

[mcal]

...I will accept yujam's explanation of what happened, or may have happened.
Now in that case, it is the fault the person or persons who received him when he reported to camp.
If you are a store clerk and some one comes along to buy stuff, he gives you a 100 dollar bill for a purchase of less than 10 dollars, even though you have the change to give back will there not be some kind of suspicion, say to check the money if na real?
So same thing here, a 17 year old reported for camp because they said he was good, why not check him out, a little investigation will do.

[Kabalega]

...but if he is 17 and playing for the senior team at the AFCON, why is it age-cheat?
Does afcon require age limit?
Unless they are punishing him for taking someone else slot on the team (the kind thing CE-Nigerians frown on when their favorite player is not picked).

It is against CAF rules to register a player using falsified documents at any level.
Cameroon faces a ban for taking that player to AFCON.

Where does it end? You never know, a thorough investigation might discover that the player is not even eligible to play for Cameroon (he could be Nigerian ) as his registration didn’t meet the FIFA rules.

[ohenhen1]

This is what Nigeria needs to do. We need to do a clear out and reset the clock. Too many players in our league and youth teams using false ages.

Cameroon Suspends 17-Year-Old AFCON Star, 61 Others For Age Falsification

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 3:21:19 WAT

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has suspended 62 players after finding evidence they had been lying about their ages, in some cases by over a decade.

It will be noted that one of the highest-profile players caught up in the bombshell controversy is Wilfried Nathan Douala, the 17-year-old AFCON 2023 star.

The Victoria United midfielder featured for the Indomitable Lions at the last Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where he was incredibly billed as being just 17 years old.

However, FECAFOOT’s investigation has found Douala’s true age according to a viral post on social media, with the player one of 62 suspended domestically for “double identities” over false ages.

“These 62 players, including Douala, were suspended for double identity: they are suspected of having concealed their true age,” the post stated in part.

Douala, who became an overnight star at AFCON 2023 before returning to Victoria United, has seen his burgeoning career thrown into turmoil by the revelations.

The age deceptions raise huge integrity issues for FECAFOOT and CAF, with Douala likely to face a lengthy ban for competing at the international level under pretences.

The scandal surrounding Douala’s age fraud has shattered the image of the young prodigy, exposing the complexities and controversies that often accompany the rise of football talent in Africa.

Despite initial acclaim, doubts surrounding Douala’s age have cast a shadow over his achievements and raised questions about the authenticity of his performances on the field.

This should be in world forum. Why is it in Eagles nest?

[ohenhen1]

This is what Nigeria needs to do. We need to do a clear out and reset the clock. Too many players in our league and youth teams using false ages.

Cameroon Suspends 17-Year-Old AFCON Star, 61 Others For Age Falsification

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 3:21:19 WAT

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has suspended 62 players after finding evidence they had been lying about their ages, in some cases by over a decade.

It will be noted that one of the highest-profile players caught up in the bombshell controversy is Wilfried Nathan Douala, the 17-year-old AFCON 2023 star.

The Victoria United midfielder featured for the Indomitable Lions at the last Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where he was incredibly billed as being just 17 years old.

However, FECAFOOT’s investigation has found Douala’s true age according to a viral post on social media, with the player one of 62 suspended domestically for “double identities” over false ages.

“These 62 players, including Douala, were suspended for double identity: they are suspected of having concealed their true age,” the post stated in part.

Douala, who became an overnight star at AFCON 2023 before returning to Victoria United, has seen his burgeoning career thrown into turmoil by the revelations.

The age deceptions raise huge integrity issues for FECAFOOT and CAF, with Douala likely to face a lengthy ban for competing at the international level under pretences.

The scandal surrounding Douala’s age fraud has shattered the image of the young prodigy, exposing the complexities and controversies that often accompany the rise of football talent in Africa.

Despite initial acclaim, doubts surrounding Douala’s age have cast a shadow over his achievements and raised questions about the authenticity of his performances on the field.

This should be in world forum. Why is it in Eagles nest?

[joplass]

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

[Lolly]

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

He also changed his name. Very common in Nigeria too.

[YUJAM]

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

[bamenda boy]

...I will accept yujam's explanation of what happened, or may have happened.
Now in that case, it is the fault the person or persons who received him when he reported to camp.
If you are a store clerk and some one comes along to buy stuff, he gives you a 100 dollar bill for a purchase of less than 10 dollars, even though you have the change to give back will there not be some kind of suspicion, say to check the money if na real?
So same thing here, a 17 year old reported for camp because they said he was good, why not check him out, a little investigation will do.

The President of Opopo is Eto'os friend. Nathan Douala was neither the best player in the Cameroon league or the best midfielder in the Cameroon league. He was not recognized in any category of the best home based players.

Immediately he was selected, Eto'o and Co were notified about his age discrepancies. That's why not only did he not play a single game, his name was not on the match list of any Cameroon game. They knew the consequences of what could happen if his name was on the match list.

He collected his premium abs the rest is history.
By the way all these are coming out because of internal fightings in the Cameroon league.

Fecafoot has not played clubs subvention. Watch them suspend the clubs for the remainder of the season without paying them.

May the drama continue.

[Thelastoneleft]

The president of Opopo (Nathan Douala's club) has come out to "debunk" the double identity accusation on Nathan Douala. He claims that Alexandre Bardelli was the elder brother of Nathan Douala and has even presented a death certificate as documented "evidence" that Alexandre Bardelli died last year.

Holy $@#%

[joplass]

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

YUJAM,

Watching a Cameroonian TV station, they seem to confirm that there is more to come. The idea is around Doualla getting 45M CFA. It seems his mother will speak sometimes about this in the future.

[YUJAM]

This guy was busted. The tattoos show that Bardelli and Douala are the same person. Le Monde did a great job of investigating and exposing this guy.

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

YUJAM,

Watching a Cameroonian TV station, they seem to confirm that there is more to come. The idea is around Doualla getting 45M CFA. It seems his mother will speak sometimes about this in the future.

[Thelastoneleft]

This guy was busted. The tattoos show that Bardelli and Douala are the same person. Le Monde did a great job of investigating and exposing this guy.

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

YUJAM,

Watching a Cameroonian TV station, they seem to confirm that there is more to come. The idea is around Doualla getting 45M CFA. It seems his mother will speak sometimes about this in the future.

The Cameroun Federation (read Eto’o) has acquitted him of all charges.

[YUJAM]

Chei. The guy is clearly a cheat yet he's being given a pass. Sad

This guy was busted. The tattoos show that Bardelli and Douala are the same person. Le Monde did a great job of investigating and exposing this guy.

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

YUJAM,

Watching a Cameroonian TV station, they seem to confirm that there is more to come. The idea is around Doualla getting 45M CFA. It seems his mother will speak sometimes about this in the future.

The Cameroun Federation (read Eto’o) has acquitted him of all charges.

[joplass]

The guy is a cheat, maybe. Why nobody is stopping him? His club? The league? The Federation.

Chei. The guy is clearly a cheat yet he's being given a pass. Sad

This guy was busted. The tattoos show that Bardelli and Douala are the same person. Le Monde did a great job of investigating and exposing this guy.

I don't buy it. Etoo has cracked down on age cheating from day one. So what does he have to gain by making an exception for this guy?

What I am hearing from the people in Cameroon is that usual suspects Eto'o and Song told him to change his age and they will place him in some big club in Europe. If true, this is hot pepper for Cameroon and specially those two.

YUJAM,

Watching a Cameroonian TV station, they seem to confirm that there is more to come. The idea is around Doualla getting 45M CFA. It seems his mother will speak sometimes about this in the future.

The Cameroun Federation (read Eto’o) has acquitted him of all charges.