Sports Reporter
HARARE – Players competing in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 COSAFA Qualifier in Harare will undergo mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to verify their eligibility, as tournament officials move to clamp down on age cheating and ensure a level playing field.
The competition, which kicks off on Thursday, will see all participants scanned on their non-dominant wrist—a method approved by FIFA to assess bone growth plates. Dr. Thulani Ngwenya, Vice President of the CAF Medical Commission and COSAFA Medical Officer, is leading the regional testing process.
“MRI is a FIFA approved method used to determine eligibility to play in the Under-17 age group,” Dr. Ngwenya explained.
“For the purpose of Under-17 tournaments, everyone who is a Grade 6 [fully fused growth plate] is therefore deemed ineligible to participate.”
He emphasized that the scan determines eligibility, not exact age:
“This is an eligibility assessment, not an age determination assessment.”
The strict enforcement follows past regional disqualifications—including Zimbabwe’s in 2020—after multiple teams fielded ineligible players. According to CAF Medical Manager Dr. Sidiki Boubakary, the policy has significantly reduced infractions, from 7% in the 2018/19 edition to below 1% in 2022/23.
Development Structures Questioned
The tournament comes amid criticism from former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, who raised concerns over the selection process and the noticeable absence of players from traditional development hubs like Black Rhinos, Caps United, Dynamos, Highlanders, and Hwange in the national U-17 squad.
Mwaruwari, a product of junior football structures in Bulawayo, attributed the gap to the collapse of development systems at major clubs.
“Without proper development structures, chaos will prevail,” Mwaruwari stated.
“In a proper setup, there is no need for trials; it’s the processes that are transparent, laid bare, so that the best possible talent, regardless of financial position, gets selected.”
His concerns were echoed by Adomsi Mukasi of the Soccer Supporters Association and Zifa Southern Region chairman Lloyd Munhanga, who warned that the current approach favors academy players with resources over raw talent from diverse backgrounds.
The Young Warriors are set to begin their COSAFA campaign under close scrutiny, both on and off the pitch, as officials aim to balance sporting integrity with equitable talent development.
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