The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has amended the regulation around the age test system popularly called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) ahead of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, OGN reports.
In a correspondence on their official website CAF announced that they have revised the guidelines and amended the part that says an entire team will be disqualified if one player fails the test. The new guideline will come into effect from this year’s tournament.
It says a team will only be disqualified if four or more of its players fail the test. It also says if one, two or three of the players fail the test which is pegged at grade 6. The concerned team will be allowed to play in the tournament but the players involved will be disqualified with the team also not given the window to replace them.
Below is the new regulation by CAF which will benefit the Nigeria U17 team with three of their key midfielders on grade 5, which is a grade above the limit set by Nigeria, and the NFF decided to exclude them in order not to get the team disqualified, with fears hinged on the players possibly growing above the limit when tested at the tournament proper.
The approved Regulation: Article 27 now reads:
27.1 For the qualifying phase, an eligibility test will be compulsory performed for all the participating teams before the start of the matches.
27.2 The test will be performed according to CAF Protocol in a health facility duly accredited centre where there is an MRI apparatus (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
27.3 CAF reserve the right to make the eligibility test (MRI) as well during the final phase for the twelve teams qualified to the tournament. The cost of the MRI test that will be covered by CAF.
27.4. 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.
27.5. If after performing an MRI test for a participating team and one (1), two (2) or three (3) of its players are found ineligible, the said player(s) will not be allowed to participate in the competition. The concerned team will be allowed to participate in the competition but is not authorized to replace the ineligible player(s).
27.6. The following procedures shall be followed:
(i) All participating teams are expected to arrive five (5) days before the start of the competition. The host association shall cover the related costs.
(ii) The participating teams may be subjected to MRI tests, to be conducted at the earliest five (5) days before the start of the competition. CAF reserves the right to conduct an MRI Test at any time before or during the competition.
(iii) Any request for a second reading for a player found to be ineligible shall be addressed to CAF by email no later than 3 hours following notification of the outcome of the first reading.’’
This modification comes into effect from the date of notification of this decision and will be applied in the final tournament of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria 2023.
Mohammed Mowiz
