Cameroon’s football federation (Fecafoot) has cleared Nathan Doualla to play in the country’s Elite League play-offs, without revealing how the international midfielder proved his identity following allegations of age cheating.
The 17-year-old, who was part of the Indomitable Lions squad at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, was among 62 players suspended by Fecafoot for double identification.
It came amid accusations he had previously played in the Cameroonian league using the name Alexandre Bardelli, with his registration stating he was over the age of 21.
An investigation by French newspaper Le Monde, external unearthed the discrepancy before the Nations Cup.
While Doualla was still selected for the tournament in Ivory Coast, he was then suspended by Fecafoot until he could prove his identity.
But before the top-flight play-offs, which begin on Friday, the federation released a list of 14 players, from the suspended 62, eligible to take part, including Doualla and Victoria United team-mate Nji Richmond, without giving details of how they proved their identities.
However, former international Bernard Tchoutang, a Nations Cup winner with Cameroon in 2000, used social media, external to announce that “Victoria United provided proof to Fecafoot showing that Bardelli is the deceased brother of Doualla, and the public should back off and allow Doualla to focus on the play-offs”.
Victoria United also defended its players, using its now deactivated Facebook account to say “Fecafoot confirms two of our players Wilfried Nathan Doualla and Nji Richmond don’t have double identity. Both players are eligible to play the play-offs”.
Both Doualla and Richmond have been linked with moves to Turkish club Antalyaspor but the Super Lig side has refused to be drawn into the controversy.