Kinshasa, February 18th, 2026 (CPA).- The Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) has provisionally cancelled the opening match initially scheduled for Wednesday in its Under-17 tournament between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Equatorial Guinea, after six players were declared ineligible following medical tests, according to a statement. “Following these examinations, it appears that the participating Equatorial Guinea team includes six players declared ineligible, whereas the competition regulations set the maximum authorized limit at three players,” the statement read.
According to the communiqué dated February 18 and signed by Rémy Marthial N’Nang, Executive Director of UNIFFAC, a copy of which was received Wednesday by CPA, the irregular status of these six Equatorial Guinean players falls within the framework of eligibility checks related to the U17 category through MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examinations conducted on players from teams engaged in the zonal qualifying competition for the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in accordance with the applicable regulatory provisions. Consequently, the statement indicated, in strict compliance with regulatory texts, UNIFFAC, as organizer of the tournament, informed all stakeholders that the opening match between the DR Congo U17 Leopards and Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional U17 team has been provisionally cancelled. It added that this precautionary measure was taken pending the final decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the only body competent to rule on the matter. In conclusion, UNIFFAC reaffirmed its commitment to respecting regulations, sporting fairness, and the integrity of competitions.
Cameroon–Gabon, Only Match on Wednesday
Following the developments surrounding the inaugural match between DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea, only the fixture between Cameroon and Gabon remains on Wednesday’s schedule, set for 3:00 p.m. at Tata Raphaël Stadium.