Cameroon have cleared Wilfried Nathan Douala of allegation of false identity, weeks after an investigation was launched on the player.
Douala’s inclusion in the Cameroon national team stirred controversy due to doubts about his age.
Recall he was being touted as the youngest player at the just concluded AFCON at 17 years old.
Suspicions arose regarding his true identity, with comparisons drawn to a 23-year-old named Alexandre Bardelli.
Similarities between Douala and Bardelli, including matching tattoos and a shared scar, raised eyebrows.
Even more intriguing was the coincidence of Douala’s mother’s phone number being the same as the one Bardelli had provided years earlier.
Following Douala’s suspension on March 10th over false identity allegations, it seemed his football career might come to an abrupt halt.
However, the story took a twist when the Cameroonian Football Federation cleared Douala of the accusations, confirming his date of birth as June 15th, 2006, making him indeed 17 years old.
This decision paves the way for Douala to continue playing for his club, Victoria United FC, in the upcoming MTN Elite 2024 playoffs.
