UFOA A U17 Tournament: Guinea disqualified, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone requalified
Guinea disqualified from tournament
Guinea will not participate in the UFOA A U17 Tournament, after a final decision by the UFOA A was made public on Monday. The Syli U17 was disqualified due to too many players failing the MRI tests. Indeed, more than four players from the Guinean team were deemed ineligible, because the MRI revealed that they were over 17 years old, thus exceeding the limit set by the regulations.
Reexamination of cases and reclassification of two nations
Initially disqualified, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone had also failed the first MRI tests. However, both nations appealed, as did Guinea. CAF then ordered a new series of tests, carried out at a clinic identified by it. The results allowed Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone to be requalified, while Guinea was not so lucky, its results confirming too many ineligible players.
Tournament start postponed
The UFOA A U17 Tournament, originally scheduled for October 20, has been postponed to Tuesday, October 22. This change was necessary to allow for the re-examination of the MRI test results. The tournament officially begins with a match between Senegal and Liberia at 4 p.m. GMT at Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal.
Conclusion
The disqualification of Guinea from the UFOA A U17 Tournament is a hard blow for the cadet selection, which will not be able to participate in this qualifying competition for the CAN U17. On the other hand, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, after a second series of tests, were reinstated and will be able to try to qualify for the rest of the competition.
