The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) is currently embroiled in a controversial situation following the emergence of allegations regarding player identity fraud that could potentially lead to two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) suspensions. Amid unexpected developments, the once-acclaimed 17-year-old midfielder, Wilfried Nathan Douala, finds himself at the centre of the controversy following an inquiry by French news outlet Le Monde.
As per a documentary by Le Monde that premiered on March 11, Nathan Douala used to go by the name Alexandre Bardelli. The report carefully details unique characteristics and tattoos, indicating a change in name and age from 21 in 2022 to 17 in 2023.
FECAFOOT had announced Nathan Douala as the youngest player in the just-concluded AFCON tournament held in Ivory Coast. Nevertheless, the investigation by Le Monde raises doubts regarding the player’s true identity and age.
Le Monde’s investigative approach has come under scrutiny for its critical nature. MMI has identified a significant gap in their methodology, specifically the lack of interviews with anyone from the 2022 team or exploration of issues concerning birth certificates and official documents. Considering Wilfred Nathan’s status as a registered football player, the presence of such documentation should have been a key focus of the investigation. This is important given that Le Monde’s central argument is that Wilfred Nathan did not exist before 2023, based on social media and internet searches. MMI conducted similar searches for Alexandre Bardelli and it also did not exist before Le Monde’s article of 2022.
Methodological issues with Le Monde’s investigation
The arguments presented in Le Monde’s video and pictures, while compelling, are deemed insufficient in the age of technological manipulation. The documentary hinges entirely on Le Monde’s own internal evidence of 2022 in an article that is not free to read for everyone as it requires a subscription. As such, only subscribers will be able to effectively scrutinise Le Monde’s main source. Secondly, they argue that nothing existed about Nathan Douala before his being called up to the National Team in December 2023. However, a search by MMI showed that on the same Instagram account, there are images posted from September 29th, 2023, and in some of them, the name Nathan is seen on the back of the player. This is information that Le Monde did not include in their documentary.
Furthermore, MMI questions why Le Monde did not conduct any interviews with people from Limbe who knew Nathan or Alexandre while growing up. This could offer more reliable evidence of whether he went by a different name in his early years.
There is also a picture that the Indomitable Lions X account shared that purports to show Wilfred Nathan and Carlos Baleba, who currently plays for Brighton and Hove Albion. Le Monde did not seek to authenticate that image and interview Baleba, to find out if he knew a younger Nathan/Alexandre. All these raise significant questions about their approach and conclusions but do not conclusively dispel the questions being raised.
High stakes for FECAFOOT
The debate over Nathan’s unexpected rise in the football world intensified when he was selected for Rigobert Song’s Cameroon squad for the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast and is likely to continue unless there are clear answers. The absence of documentation on Wilfried Nathan Douala and his sudden emergence as a player for Victoria United FC in the 2023/24 season only heightened doubts.
FECAFOOT faces high stakes due to Article 45 of the African Nations Cup regulations, which requires an investigation into fraud, falsification, or administrative errors, with potential consequences detailed in Article 46. If fraud or falsification is confirmed, the national association risks suspension from participating in the next two editions of the AFCON.
With all eyes on FECAFOOT, it is important to underscore the need to provide a thorough explanation for the allegations. If a satisfactory response is not given, Nathan Douala and his team may face heightened public attention, resulting in calls for an explanation regarding the alleged transition from Alexandre Bardelli to Nathan Douala.
This revelation has far-reaching consequences, not only for FECAFOOT and the potential two AFCON suspensions but also for Cameroon’s reputation in the global football community. This situation highlights the vital significance of integrity and transparency in the sport, keeping fans and officials eagerly anticipating the results of the ongoing investigation.
