- Nathan Douala has become popular for the wrong reasons since his shock inclusion in Cameroon’s AFCON 2022 squad
- Le Monde says the 17yo was 21 in 2022
- Nathan is awaiting clearance for his involvement in the MTN Elite One championship playoffs but could land the Indomitable Lions in a big mess
The supposed ‘real identity’ of controversial Cameroonian midfielder Wilfried Nathan Douala has been released by French tabloid Le Monde.
A documentary released this Monday, March 11 with footage of their coverage of two years ago in the city of Douala during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) suggests that the said player has changed his identity from Alexandre Bardelli to Wilfried Nathan Douala and also changed his age from 21 in 2022 to 17-year-old in 2024.
The report which carefully identifies tattoos and other unique attributes of the player when Le Monde visited the Oryx Douala player back then fuels claims that Nathan has falsified his identity.
Nathan was a surprise inclusion in Rigobert Song’s Cameroon squad for the 2023 AFCON in Côte D’Ivoire, having only appeared to the scene in the beginning of the 2023/24 season as a Victoria United FC player with no traces of registration as Wilfried Nathan Douala in previous seasons.
The midfielder who grew up in Douala first played for historic third tier side Oryx of Douala before joining Victoria United FC.
His inclusion in the AFCON squad sparked controversy especially because he was listed as a 17yo. A recent FECAFOOT publication of Nathan’s name on the provisional list of players to potentially miss the MTN Elite One championship playoffs due to double identity sparked fresh controversy and the release of the documentary.
If these claims turn out to be true then the supposed 17-year-old could land five-time African champions Cameroon into a big mess which can go as far as expulsion.
Article 45 of the African Nations Cup regulations recommends an investigation of cases of fraud, falsification or administrative errors while article 46 clearly prescribes it’s consequences;
“If CAF learns, from whatever the source, that fraud and/ or falsification of documents accomplished by any means and/ or support whatsoever has been committed by one or more national team(s), an investigation will be opened.”
“If the incriminating facts are proven, the national association found guilty will be suspended from participation in the two following editions of the AFCON,” reads the competition’s guidelines.
The recent twist of events indicates that even if FECAFOOT somehow clears Nathan there will be a public call for the player and his entourage to explain how he transformed from Alexandre Bardelli to Nathan Douala.
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