By Victor Kanayo
South Sudan have lost the opportunity to put some smiles on their citizens struggling to survive amidst war situation after the Confederation of African Football, (CAF) kicked them out of the ongoing 2023 U17 African Nations Cup in Algeria.
The team had conducted the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test 48 hours before the result showed that five players failed the test.
This was disclosed by CAF in a letter dated April 29.
The memo signed by CAF Director of Competition, Samson Adamu, stated that Sudan will no longer participate in the tournament.
Sudan were initially placed in group C alongside Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Responding via a statement, South Sudan Football Association, (SSFA) expressed regret, while acknowledging the decision made by CAF.
It said two of these players had previously passed the MRI eligibility test in Ethiopia during the zonal qualifiers in September 2022.
Sudan were supposed to have their group opener against Cameroon but the game will not hold.
CAF had warned that any country whose four or more players fail the test will be disqualified from taking part in the competition.
Meanwhile, the first two concluded matches of the U17 AFCON have produced winners.
Senegal on Sunday afternoon beat DR Congo 1-0, while host Algeria outclassed Somalia 2-0.
The tournament kicked off on Saturday April 28.
