DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Senegal’s triumph over Morocco in the U15 African Schools Championship semi-final, a 4-0 victory, has triggered controversy following the match played on April 9 in Zimbabwe. Moroccan fans are now calling for an official investigation into the ages of Senegalese players, citing discrepancies in physical appearance and maturity.
Moroccan observers highlighted the significant differences in height, physique, and facial features between the teams, with some suggesting that certain Senegalese players appeared older than the U15 age category. The absence of systematic MRI testing in U15 school-level tournaments has further fueled the concerns, as such tests are more commonly employed in U17 competitions.
The controversy echoes a 2019 incident involving Senegal’s youth teams, where reports emerged that eight players were excluded from the FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil due to age-related concerns. The Senegalese Football Federation denied these claims, asserting that the players were removed internally before the final squad submission.
Former Senegal international Guirane N’Daw’s 2020 admission that “99% of players in Senegal have reduced their age “to become professionals has also resurfaced, adding to the calls for transparency. Senegal, poised to face Uganda in the final, could face disciplinary scrutiny if Morocco files an official complaint.
The focus now centers on whether the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will initiate a formal investigation into the eligibility of the young Senegalese players, as the age fraud allegations continue to cast a shadow over the African Schools Championship.
Source: moroccoworldnews
Original author: Farah Ben Gamra
