AFCON U17: Dreams shattered as South Sudan disqualified for age-cheating

South Sudan will not take part in the ongoing Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria after five players were disqualified for failing the MRI test.

CAF disqualified the team a day before their opening Group C match against Cameroon which was scheduled for May 1st.

“Kindly be informed that the South Sudan U17 National team has been disqualified from the competition for having more than 3 ineligible players as per the MRI eligibility test,” CAF Announced their decision.

The rules state that: “If after performing the eligibility test (MRI) for a participating team and four (4) or more of its players are found ineligible, the participating team will be disqualified.”

Rules adjusted

The decision now leaves Group C with only three teams comprising Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The earlier rules stated that the top two from each and the two best third-placed teams advance to the quarterfinal however, the CAF Organizing Committee for Youth Committee has adjusted that.

In the new rules for qualification, the result of the third team against the fourth in the groups will not be counted.

Meaning that the two matches taken into consideration to determine the two best third-placed teams will be their matches against the first and the second of the group.

U-17 AFCON 2023

Group A: Algeria, Senegal, Congo and Somalia

Group B: Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa and Zambia

Group C: Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso