On the eve of the start of Africa’s most famous international competition, CAN, controversy surrounding a player’s age has once again flared up. CAF, the body that governs African football, has called on Gabon international Gelora Kangu to come forward and explain to the High Council how he was born four years after the death of his mother.
But let’s take it piece by piece. Kanga, who currently plays for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, has been subjected to this unusual case before. According to documents provided by the Gabonese Football Federation and the attacking midfielder, including his passport, he was born in Gabon on September 1, 1990, and is currently 33 years old. However, in 2021, the DR Congo federation sued its Gabonese counterpart for falsifying documents, claiming that Kanga was actually Kiaku-Kiako Kianga, born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, on October 5, 1985. the investigation concluded that the player’s mother died in early 1986, approximately four months after Keanga’s supposed birth. In other words, instead of 33 years old, the midfielder would currently be 38 years old.
Now the investigation launched by CAF requires Guelor Kanga to appear before the committee and explain his role in what is happening, and Gabon could be convicted of falsifying documents, failing to comply with FIFA rules on player registration and thus be suspended. in the 2025 and 2027 editions – he did not qualify for the current edition, which starts on the 13th.
With 64 appearances and three goals for Gabon, Gelor Kanga led a selection that also included Marseille’s Aubameyang and Wolverhampton’s Mario Lemina. The plot casts doubt on the entire Gabonese Federation, and CAF faces a difficult task in investigating the facts.