The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is currently conducting an investigation into potential age manipulation involving a Gabonese player. Guelor Kanga, who claimed to be born in 1990, is facing scrutiny as reports indicate discrepancies in his age declarations.
Kanga asserted his birth year as 1990, but revelations about his mother’s reported demise in 1985 have raised doubts about the accuracy of his age claims. Consequently, Kanga is now under investigation for suspected identity fraud. Despite presenting himself as a 32-year-old born in 1990, it has been revealed that his mother passed away in 1985, creating a 36-year gap.
Guélor Kanga, an attacking midfielder for Red Star Belgrade and the Gabon national team, originally hails from Congo. The Confederation of African Football initiated the investigation following a complaint by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) against Gabon for allegedly fielding a player involved in identity fraud.
FECOFA contends that Guelor Kanga, whose current passport indicates a birth date of September 1, 1990, in Oyem, is, in reality, Kiaku Kiaku Kiangana, born on October 5, 1985, in Kinshasa, DRC. The Congolese federation believes that the Red Star Belgrade player manipulated his identity upon joining the Gabonese second division club GBI.
According to FECOFA, considering the reported death of Kanga’s mother in 1985, it is implausible for him to have been born in 1990 unless there was a miraculous resurrection and subsequent birth, an event deemed impossible.
If found guilty, the Gabonese Football Federation could face charges related to forgery concerning the administrative documents provided by the player and non-compliance with FIFA procedures regarding his change of sporting nationality from Congo to Gabon.
