Former Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie has admitted age fraud is “rampant” in African football, while also describing it as the “biggest problem” threatening the growth of the beautiful game in the region.
The former Julius Berger FC striker spoke to the BBC Sport on issues of ‘age cheating’ in the continent, days after Lazio threatened legal action against those who have questioned the legitimacy of the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Minala.
Nine players failed to partake in the African Under-17 Championship in Morocco after MRI wrist scans proved they were over-aged in April last year.
The Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast and Nigeria each had three players who were indicted in the scandal.
Later in August, several key Golden Eaglets players players failed to make the Under-17 World cup in October for the same reason.
Akpoborie, who now works as an agent, admits he knows of many players who “lied” about their age in African football.
He told BBC Sport: “It has been a big problem and still is. Some of them played at the Under-17 level and then a few years later retire because they can’t run any more.
“Look at Spain’s national team as an example of how it should be done. The likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta came through the youth teams. You can track their career all the way through.
“When you look at the African players playing for the Under-17s, maybe one or two years later they have retired because they can’t produce what they produced at Under-17 level because they are so old. The wrong players are being given the platform.”
Read the Full BBC Feature Here.
