In a shocking development, the South Sudan U-17 national football team has been disqualified from the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) U17 tournament in Algeria. The disqualification came after five of their players failed the MRI test conducted on the team.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) took the decision after it was revealed that the players had falsified their ages to participate in the tournament. The MRI test was conducted on April 26th to confirm that all players met the age eligibility criteria established by the competition’s regulations.
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) expressed regret over the disqualification and acknowledged the decision made by CAF. Albino Kuek Deng, the SSFA spokesperson, revealed that two of the players who failed the MRI test had previously passed the MRI eligibility test in Ethiopia during the zonal qualifiers in September 2022.
The SSFA wrote a complaint to CAF medical committee against their decision, but the complaint was rejected by the medical committee, citing that their first and second readings remain the same. The SSFA stated that they understood and respected the disqualification decision made by the competition’s organizers.
“We fully understand and respect the decision made by the competition’s organizers, and we apologize to our fans, sponsors, and partners for any disappointment this may cause,” the SSFA said in a statement.
South Sudan Football Association also emphasized that they have always been committed to fair play and sportsmanship. They have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that all their players meet the eligibility criteria set by the competition’s regulations.
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