AFCON 2023: Golden Eaglets could face disqualification if players fail MRI tests

Nigeria has had issues with age cheating in the past, and if it happens again, the consequences could be dire

Nigeria’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, could be eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations if up to four players fail the Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) tests that will be conducted by CAF on Tuesday Soccernet.ng reports.

Coach Nduka Ugbade will be looking to lead the Golden Eaglets to a third triumph on the continent when they kick off their games against Zambia on Sunday, April 30.

In order to curb age cheating in age-grade competitions, FIFA introduced MRI in 2003, and CAF adopted it.

In the past, players have been disqualified for failing the MRI scans, but nothing usually happens to the countries that they represent.

However, the rules have now changed. Per Pulse.ng, If four or more players do not pass the MRI test, the country will be disqualified from the AFCON.

However, if fewer than four players do not pass, the players would be disqualified but the country would not be allowed to replace them.

Andre Randa reports that CAF would conduct the tests today. And coach Ugbade would hope that his boys pass and they can focus on the tournament that begins on the 29th of April.