On the AFCON among the many Cameroon stars of Vincent Aboubakar (32) and André Onana (27) was the shock collection of the youngest participant on the match: Wilfried Nathan Douala.
The seventeen-year-old was enjoying for Victoria United, a membership within the Limbé area of Cameroon, and his choice stood out alongside Leonel Ateba as the one two gamers nonetheless enjoying within the nation’s league system to be known as up.
A second of pleasure about “the uncommon pearl” rapidly dissipated as questions arose concerning the relevance and suitability of choosing an inexperienced and ‘younger’ attacking midfielder, and already doubts about his age had begun to set in.
Camerounfoot described him with a tongue-in-cheek assertion that he was “probably the most mature 17-year-old on the planet.” Douala didn’t seem for the facet and was by no means included within the match-day squads as they exited the match on the Spherical of 16 stage to finalists Nigeria.
What he provided the group and why he was chosen was by no means fairly addressed, and if for footballing causes this choice was a horrible mistake, then on the tenth of March the seriousness of this error was confirmed. Douala was suspended for falsifying his id and the participant was sanctioned.
The actual id of Wilfried Nathan Douala
Le Monde has allegedly confirmed the ‘true id’ of Douala, as that they had by probability interviewed a participant bearing a putting resemblance to the midfielder two years prior; the identical scar on their proper eyebrow and an identical tattoos. Each have the quantity 69 on their left arm, a cross close to the fitting hand, and three black strips beneath their left knee.
The attacking midfielder that they had spoken to on the time glided by the identify Alexandre Bardelli and stated he was 21 years previous. He was on the time enjoying for Oryx and talked to the paper about his burning need to develop into an expert, “It’s potential by sacrificing myself… Till I attain my aim, I’ll proceed to coach. I really like soccer.”
Talking in non-public to gamers from Oryx, Le Monde was capable of verify that Douala and Bardelli have been as they suspected, one and the identical. The paper continued to dig deeper and located that the quantity Bardelli had supplied to them, had modified to that of Douala’s mom.
When this quantity was contacted, Douala’s mom was evasive on the matter telling them “There are nicknames and every little thing that goes with them. It doesn’t matter.” Whereas family contacted solely recommended that there was a “resemblance” between the person and the mature boy.
The case of Cameroon and Douala investigated by CAN
Le Monde had contacted the Cameroonian federation concerning the matter two days earlier than the beginning of the AFCON, and requested a number of occasions concerning the matter however have been unwilling to react. It has left not solely the player-sanctioned however the federation open to repercussions.
The Confederation of African Soccer can now open an investigation into whether or not there was fraud or id theft. If that is then confirmed, the nationwide group could be punished by being excluded from the following two AFCONs.
GFFN | Nick Hartland