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29 of 36 Nigeria 'U17s' fail FIFA age test


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Bloody hell!

 

29 of 36 Nigeria 'U17s' fail FIFA age test

 

FIFA Age Tests Send Shockwaves Through African Game

 

The recent findings that just seven out of the 36 players chosen for the preliminary Nigerian squad at the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup passed an MRI age test will no doubt send shockwaves through the African game.

 

Although the findings will come as no surprise to many, given that footballers across the continent have been liberal with their ages for some time, the fact that this is now now being used by FIFA to scientifically prove the fact and oust the cheats will cause a fair amount of panic amongst coaches and players alike.

 

A full explanation of how the test works is complicated, but suffice to say Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and pulses of radiowave energy to create images of organs and bone structure.

 

It is used to evaluate age from the degree of fusion of the bones in the wrist, which only completely come together at around the age of 20 in human beings.

 

Although the Nigerian Football Federation claim that FIFA “know the test is not reliable for determining the ages of players”, the world governing body appear to be standing firm on the use of this technology for the future.

 

And although the NFF are claiming innocence in the debate, they have dropped 15 of the players who underwent the MRI scans ahead of the Under-17 World Cup.

 

They need to then make sure they are testing all teams from all continents, and push the technology on the poorer Confederations around the world. If FIFA are going to come down on the Nigerians, they must test everybody on an equal footing.

 

But it is fair to say a precedence has now been set. FIFA asked for the MRI tests to be done, the results showed alleged incidents of over-age individuals in the squad and some, if not all, have been removed.

 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) now needs to follow the lead with testing ahead of the next African Under-17 Championships, a tournament that has always garnered suspicion.

 

In a way, the pressure has now been placed on them by FIFA and, no doubt, the media, to clean up their act having for so long sat back and allowed over-age players to participate in junior events, something which sullies the reputation of African football. Something tells me we shouldn’t hold our breath though.

 

 

http://www.kenyafootball.com/index.php?doc=story&id=4001&categ=1#

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The prizes in football are too great. There are always going to people who are going to lie and cheat if they think they can get away with it. And then when others observe others cheating, they are going to do the same as if you can't beat it join it.

 

Good step by FIFA but they've got to do it for everyone now.

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How correct is the MRI scan though?

Isn't it hard to find the exact age when they are around 18 and up which puts 17 years old in a deadzone really?

 

Babatunde needs to respond to this.

 

Its like a lot of drugs tests where they look at probability distributions and t-tests. There is no exact science, but the limits are generally set to a point where based on existing data there is only about a 1% chance that its natural.

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Guest elbee909

How correct is the MRI scan though?

Isn't it hard to find the exact age when they are around 18 and up which puts 17 years old in a deadzone really?

 

Babatunde needs to respond to this.

 

He can't respond, he's died of old age.  They're all at it.

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Apparently this guy is the captain of their "Under 16's".

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PSI1L9Db3wQ/SKBoanCjNxI/AAAAAAAAXHA/H6WYjBN3lMg/s400/mohammedbello.jpg

 

He looks about 12 tbh.

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The only thing shocking about this is that it's only 29 of them cheating. How old is Kanu supposed to be ? He looks at least 50, i don't think he's been able to sprint for about 8 years.

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