Manu Garba, Golden Eaglets coach has hailed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the disqualification of Guinea for fielding over aged players during the just concluded Under-17 AFCON held in Tanzania.
Guinea eliminated Nigeria in the semifinal of the competition through penalty shootout, and Garba said the use of over aged players by Guinea prevented his team from getting to the finals of the U-17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Garba explained that his team lost to an over aged side that should have been penalised earlier than now.
CAF disqualified Guinea from participating in the next two editions of the U-17 AFCON and the next FIFA U-17 World Cup for fielding two ineligible players – Aboubacar Conte and Ahmed Tidiane Keita – in an AFCON U-17 game in Tanzania against Senegal in April.
Guinea finished as runners-up at the U-17 Nations Cup, defeating Nigeria on penalties in the semi-final and loosing to Cameroon in the finals after a shootout.
Senegal, who originally finished third in Group B, behind Cameroon and Guinea thereby missing out on U-17 World Cup qualification, will now take the place of Guinea in Brazil.
(NAN)