Gabonese international Guélor Kanga has found himself entangled in a web of baseless rumors circulating on social media platforms. The controversy suggests renewed concerns regarding alleged age fraud, echoing a prior disciplinary inquiry by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2021, instigated by an appeal from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The speculative narrative contends that Kanga, boasting 63 caps and two goals for the Panthers, as well as plying his trade with Red Star Belgrade, is slated to appear before CAF’s Disciplinary Commission.
The purported inquiry revolves around the assertion that Kanga, born in 1990, is questioned about the incongruity of his birth year, particularly in relation to his mother’s alleged demise in 1986, potentially exposing his country to punitive measures.
However, Gabonese journalist Freddhy Koula dismisses these claims as unfounded, categorizing them as a recurring “joke” in poor taste that has resurfaced annually for the past two years.
Koula laments the recent amplification of this misinformation, noting its dissemination by several media outlets, including those typically regarded as reputable.
He underscores the prevalence of a phenomenon wherein such unverified content gains undue credibility.
Koula emphasizes the absence of any substantial investigation into the matter, clarifying that CAF’s current focus pertains solely to the upcoming AFCON 2023, commencing on January 13 and concluding on February 11, 2024.
Remarking on the historical context of the “Kanga gate” in 2021, Koula reaffirms that CAF had already scrutinized the matter, determining that the evidence presented by DR Congo failed to establish the materiality of identity falsification on the part of the player.
As Kanga prepares to represent Gabon on the continental stage, these groundless allegations underscore the challenges faced by athletes in combating the dissemination of unfounded rumors in the era of social media scrutiny.
Je répète, ceci est une vulgaire Fakenews.
Cette histoire, comme vous le savez a déjà été traitée par la CAF. La date de naissance de Guelor Kanga, depuis le «Kanga gâte», est en aussi devenue un objet de raillerie et moqueries.
La blague revient chaque année depuis 2 ans. pic.twitter.com/aw7lJxdSjf— Freddhy Koula (@FreddhyKoula) January 11, 2024
