Gabon player Kanga Kaku faces CAF INQUIRY – Mother’s death in 1986, born in 1990 raises puzzling questions!

Kanga Kaku has been accused of age fraud!

Gabon player Kanga Kaku faces CAF INQUIRY – Mother’s death in 1986, born in 1990 raises puzzling questions!

Gabonese midfielder Guelor Kanga Kaku has been accused of age manipulation. (Image via The Daily Star)

The African Football Confederation (CAF) will probe Gabonese midfielder, Guelor Kanga Kaku over potential age manipulation. Allegations suggest serious inconsistencies in his stated birth year of 1990, as records indicate his mother passed away in 1985.

The 1990-born footballer has faced controversies throughout his playing career. Currently playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, he has earned 64 caps for Gabon’s national team. In April 2021, the Congolese Football Federation accused Gabon of granting Kanga citizenship and a false birth certificate, alleging he was born in Congo with a different name, four years earlier. This was confirmed by a card from September 2003, used for his registration with a Kinshasa team.

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Back in May 2021, the CAF launched an investigation following claims that the former Sparta Prague midfielder’s registered birth date conflicts with reports of his mother’s death in 1986, despite his claimed birth year being 1990. The player, reportedly 36, states he is 32, raising concerns about age manipulation. The Gabonese international is expected to present himself in front of the CAF disciplinary committee officials, answering queries regarding the massive age controversy.

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If proven guilty, Kanga Kaku could receive a prolonged suspension and a huge fine for age manipulation. Additionally, the Gabonese Football Federation might suffer consequences, including disqualification and bans from international competitions shortly.

Guelor Kanga is not the first player to be accused of age fraud in Africa, Stuttgart’s Silas Mvupa was found guilty of similar charges

Age and identity fraud among African players are common instances, and these incidents often take place due to the African football governing bodies involving themselves in corruption and mismanagement. These scandals thus, bring disgrace to Africa.

Silas Mvupa and Guelor Kanga Kaku
Stuttgart’s Silas Mvupa (L) was found guilty of age and identity fraud in 2021, like Guelor Kanga (R). (Image via BBC and Football RDC)

Gabonese player, Guelor Kanga is not the first player to be accused of age and identity manipulation. Stuttgart midfielder, Silva Mvupa was found guilty by the the German Football Federation after his agent changed his surname to Wamangituka and reduced his age by a year, resulting in the player’s increased dependence on the agent. Consequently, Mvupa was fined €30,000 and banned for three months by the DFB.

In another incident in 2023, Cameroon’s U-17 team was excluded from a tournament when 21 out of the 30 players failed the age test. Numerous African nations, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Sudan, and others, have also faced investigations related to age manipulation issues.

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