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CECAFA enforces MRI scans for U-17 AFCON qualifiers to ensure fair competition and curb age cheating in youth football.
Age cheating continues to be a persistent challenge in youth football and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is taking strict measures to tackle it ahead of the 2025 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Set to take place in Uganda from December 14-28, CECAFA has made Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests mandatory for all players before they can participate in the tournament.
The tests aim to verify the age of each participant, ensuring a level playing field in the regional competition.
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Yusuf Mossi, CECAFA’s Competitions Director, emphasized that all teams in the competition, including Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and six other nations, must comply with the MRI testing protocols.
“We expect a very competitive tournament because most teams are already training,” said Mossi.
On arrival, CAF-designated doctors will conduct additional tests to confirm the eligibility of each player.
MRI scans have become a trusted tool in youth football for age verification, particularly in regions where age discrepancies have historically impacted the integrity of youth competitions.
The tests focus on the wrist bones to determine bone age, a reliable indicator of a player’s true age.
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This technology is essential in verifying ages without exposing players to ionizing radiation, as is common with traditional X-rays.
The enforcement of MRI tests follows a high-profile case in 2022, during the U-17 AFCON Zonal qualifiers held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In that competition, both Djibouti and Sudan were expelled from the tournament after wrist scans revealed that some of their players exceeded the age limit.
The decision, though controversial at the time, reinforced CECAFA's commitment to fair play and transparency in its competitions.
For several years, age verification through MRI has been standard practice for CECAFA, a move welcomed by coaches, players, and fans.
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Kenya are already preparing its youth team under the direction of U-17 coach Salim Babu.
The coach and his staff recently launched a talent search initiative across Kenya, scouting young players from various regions.
"We have come to scout for talents. We have decided to select youths from every region because if we call them to Nairobi, we will lock out many talents," said coach Babu.
“Talents are in the grassroots; we are scouting for Under-17. They will travel to Uganda for the CECAFA tournament in December.”
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The coach’s nationwide approach is aimed at ensuring no promising young player is overlooked due to location a strategy that aligns well with CECAFA’s push for inclusivity and fair competition.
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