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Eight players dropped from U17 team after age verification


Eight players have been dropped from the national U17 team camp after extensive medical examinations confirmed them to be over the required age.

This is after Football Kenya Federation on Wednesday facilitated an MRI scan for the 40 national U17 trialists called up to do duty in the forthcoming competitive assignments.

Those selected had made the cut following months of trials in all of the 20 FKF branches countrywide.

The MRI procedure was conducted at the Mendata Africare Hospital in Nairobi, specifically to assist in age verification of these players ahead of the Africa Championship qualifiers.

“40 players went in for the MRI test. 32 were proven to be of the correct age. The 32 will report to camp in a weeks time,” FKF CEO Robert Muthomi confirmed.

Kenya is primed to play Cameroon in a knockout home and away contest of this competition in August.
The aggregate winner of this tie will earn the right to compete at the Africa Championship, and possibly the U-17 World Cup later on.

This age verification attempt by FKF comes three months after Kenya was disqualified from competing in another youth tournament – the U20 Championship qualifiers – by the Confederation of African Football for fielding ineligible players.

The sanctions from the continental body were received by criticism from a wide range of stakeholders including President Uhuru Kenyatta, who termed the action “age cheating”.