National U17 football team player takes an MRI test. | Photo: SSFA

The national football governing body SSFA has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the manner leading to the disqualification of the U17 football team from the African Cup of Nations.

On April 29th, the Confederation of African Football expelled South Sudan from the continental tournament after five players were found to have exceeded the 17 years benchmark.

According to CAF, five players of the Bright Stars squad did not pass the Magnetic Resonance Imaging eligibility test.

According to the regulations of the continental football body, if more than three players fail to meet the required age in a competition, the team in question must be disqualified.

The SSFA protested the decision saying two of the five players caught on age limit violations passed the eligibility test in the 2022 Zonal qualifiers.

This week, SSFA formed a committee chaired by its Vice President Charles Udwar and other members including George Kosta Faustino, Ana Nyakuet, Dr. Salyi Samuel, and Gabriel Daniel Arop.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Sunday, the committee chairperson Charles Udwar confirmed that an investigation is underway.

“The committee was formed to find out it is a fact-finding committee and we will work on that. We have already started some meetings and we will be looking into three aspects,” he said.

“We are investigating the administrative aspect, medical aspect and technical aspect, and from there, we will submit our report to the Board of Directors and the president.”

Udwar called on sports lovers and the entire South Sudanese people to remain calm until they submit their report.

“My message to the public is let them be calm. Mistakes are human and the mistake was not done by SSFA all of us are not happy, the country, the sports lovers and the administration of SSFA.”

“All of us are not happy because the under 17 was our hope at the world cup at least to show to the world there is talent in South Sudan.”