The Moroccan public struggled to accept the team’s elimination by Ivory Coast in the round of 16 of the Cadet World Cup. As is often the case in CAF or FIFA youth competitions, suspicions regarding the age of certain teams gained prominence on social networks.
This was evident again on a Tuesday when, at halftime with the Ivorians leading 1-0, the official Facebook page of Lionsdelatlas posted a comment: “FIFA must seriously find a solution to this age problem of African teams. The Ivorians who are on the pitch of this stadium are far from being U17s!”
This comment from the prominent Moroccan football reference site quickly sparked discussions and comments among fans and followers on social media platforms. The concern over age discrepancies in youth teams continues to be a recurring issue in African football competitions.
