In an exclusive interview with Foot Africa, former Cameroon international Patrick Mevoungou discussed the ongoing controversy surrounding Youssoufa Moukoko, a matter that has sent shockwaves through the football community.
The issue erupted after Moukoko’s adoptive father, Joseph Moukoko, made a revealing statement to the German newspaper Bild.
He admitted that Youssoufa Moukoko had a falsified birth certificate, revealing that the young player was born in 2000, not 2004 as previously believed.
This admission has raised serious questions about Moukoko’s career, especially as it could have significant consequences, including barring him from representing the German national team in the future.
Patrick Mevoungou, who has long been an advocate for football integrity, shared his views on the matter. While addressing the situation, he emphasized that the issue should not reflect badly on Cameroon.
“The situation of a player whose parents or parents are fighting over earnings does not make Cameroon the cause of the problem.
It is a purely personal matter, we must know which party is pulling the strings,” Mevoungou explained.
He further added that such controversies should be handled with care, urging national football federations to implement stricter monitoring from early ages.
“The best strategy to adopt by national federations is to have permanent monitoring for players from the lower categories onwards,” he said, suggesting that such systems could prevent similar issues from arising in the future.
The Moukoko affair raises important questions about player verification processes, especially as football grows into an even more global and commercially driven sport.
It highlights the need for more thorough background checks on players to ensure transparency and fairness in the game.
Mevoungou’s comments reinforce the growing call for greater accountability within football, as the industry navigates the challenges posed by age discrepancies and false documentation, which have been increasingly scrutinized at both national and international levels.
Footballers who faked their age { A thread 🧵}
1. Youssoufa Moukoko https://t.co/JWuWS8UiIp pic.twitter.com/DCTCb5YcJQ
— Manuel (@manuel__UtD) December 17, 2024
