Sudan FA accuse Kenya of age cheating after U20 draw in Khartoum

by
Collins Okinyo
April 5, 2016

Sudan Football Federation have alleged that the Kenya national Under 20 football team fielded five over age players in their 1-1 draw in Africa Youth Championship qualifier on Sunday.

Sudan Football Federation questioned the fielding of five players they refered to as over age players. According to SFA treasurer Oussama Ataelmaan, their federation will lodge a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “As per CAF rules, only players born on or after January 1, 1997 are eligible to play in the tournament.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa has however dismissed the age cheating allegations insisting that all their players were cleared by the match officials. “ Both teams attended a pre-match meeting where all our players were cleared by the referee and match commissioner. They looked at their passports and once they were cleared, it meant they are authentic,” Mwendwa said.

This is not the first time Kenya has come under scrutiny over player ages. See Also: Seek high-profile friendlies, Kanu tells FKF In 2003, the U17 team was banned by the continental body due to age cheating after eliminating Ghana 3-2 on aggregate.

In 2014, CAF banned Gambia for two years from all football competitions after the West African nation fielded five over age players in their U20 Championship qualifier against Liberia. Gambia won 1-0, but the result was annulled and the match awarded to Liberia.

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Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com