Uganda has been disqualified from further participating in the Africa Cup of Nations U-20 qualifiers for using an ineligible player against Rwanda in the second round.
The Hippos defeated the junior Wasps 3-2 on aggregate from a one all draw away in Kigali followed by a 2-1 win on Saturday April 23 in Namboole.
Rwanda FA quickly filed a protest contesting the eligibility of four players including Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, James Aheebawa, Halid Lwaliwa and Martin Kizza.
Ferwafa’s protest based on differing dates registered during the CAF champions league and confederations tournaments and the passports presented during the U20 qualifiers.
However, according to CAF findings Tumwesigye, Lwaliwa and Martin Kizza’s passport details matched the records in the Caf Management System (CMS). Vipers Goalie James Aheebwa was found at fault having two different dates of birth.
His passport shows he was born on the 19th May 1998 while his CAF Inter-clubs license had a different date-27/3/1997.
Ruling.
According to article 46 of the rules governing the U-20 tournament, “Each player must possess a passport containing his photo and giving the full particulars on the player’s age (day, month and year of birth) a player who does not have a passport issued by the competent authorities, shall not be authorised to participate in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. In the case of junior player participating in CAF Inter- Clubs competitions:
a- He will not be qualified to participate in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations if the date of birth indicated in his license is different from the one indicated on his passport.”
Basing on the above, the Caf committee has ruled that Aheebwa was ineligible and therefore invoked article 40. Of the same rules that states,
“A team which allows a non-qualified or a suspended player to take part in a direct knock-out match shall lose the match and shall be eliminated from the competition, even in the absence of protests.”
Rwanda will now go ahead to face Egypt in the next round of qualifiers.