By Tata Mbunwe
Victoria United has contested a decision by the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) suspending two of its players, including 17-year-old Wilfred Nathan Doualla, for age fraud.
In a statement on Monday, the Elite One Club based in Limbe said FECAFOOT made an error by naming midfielder Wilfred Nathan and the team’s top goal scorer Nji Richmond among players suspended for double identity.
On March 10, the football federation, led by legendary footballer Samuel Eto’o, suspended 62 Elite One players from the upcoming play-offs that will determine the championship’s winner.
Among the players suspended was a familiar face, Wilfred Nathan Doualla, whom Cameroonians were already finding his age too good to be true.
However, Victoria United, termed the FECAFOOT decision as a speculation, and denied claims that Doualla and Richmond have double identities.
“We wish to bring to the notice of the general public that, Wilfried Nathan Doualla and Nji Richmond do not have double identities as speculated by the Cameroon Football Federation FECAFOOT,” a release signed by Wandja Stephane reads.
“We believe that this might be an error from the Cameroon Football Federation…,” it adds.
Wilfred Nathan Doualla has been in the media since he was called up to join the Cameroon national team squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
His age, 17 years, was the subject of controversy throughout Cameroon’s participation at the tournament.
After playing four games, the national team was eventually eliminated in the round of 16 but Doualla never featured in any game.
Rather, he played a key role in cheering up the team as he was spotted in a number of videos leading the Indomitable Lions in dancing during the AFCON.
Many Cameroonians were not surprised when he featured on FECAFOOT’s list of players accused of double identity.
The accusation has further been reinforced by a publication of French television, Le Monde, which revealed Wilfred Nathan Doualla was called Alexandre Bardelli in 2022 and was 21 years old then.
In 2022, Le Monde interviewed and photographed a player of Oryx club in Douala called Bardelli. He has a spitting image and the same tattoos of Wilfred Nathan.
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