Uganda has moved towards formally challenging Sudan over the eligibility of a player who featured in Tuesday’s decisive U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the two countries.
A communication seen by CK Sports Africa shows Uganda Hippos leader of delegation Frank Ankunzire requesting FUFA CEO Edgar Watson for $2,000 to facilitate a petition against Sudan following their 3-2 semifinal victory at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Ankunzire, who is also a FUFA Executive Committee member, was officially named by FUFA as Uganda’s leader of delegation for the CECAFA U-20 qualifiers in Tanzania.
The communication, dated September 23, states that the money was being sought for what Ankunzire described as a petition against Sudan for allegedly fielding an ineligible player.
“I put in a claim for the above amount of money for petitioning Sudan for fielding an ineligible player,” Ankunzire wrote in the communication seen by CK Sports Africa.
Ankunzire further indicated that the delegation was working against a 48-hour deadline and said the petition fee was payable to CECAFA in US dollars.
CK Sports Africa can confirm that Watson authorised the release of the money but can not independently confirm whether Ankunzire will be able to beat the 48 hour window he has to formally submit the petetion.
The development comes less than 24 hours after this website reported conflicting birth records concerning Sudan forward Wail Galal Omer Alnoor.
An official CAF media start list seen by this author records Alnoor’s date of birth as May 29, 2010, while a separate Al Hilal player registration document bearing the same name records May 29, 2005.
The five-year discrepancy does not, by itself, establish that Sudan fielded an ineligible player. Determining eligibility would require verification of the player’s official identification and registration documents submitted for the competition.
It is also not established from Ankunzire’s communication alone whether Alnoor is the player specifically targeted by Uganda’s intended petition. That link should only be stated once FUFA or the delegation confirms it.
Alnoor has played an important role during Sudan’s campaign. CECAFA reported that he scored twice in Sudan’s 3-0 group-stage victory over Djibouti.
He also started against Uganda when the Hippos defeated Sudan 1-0 during the group stage and again featured in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Sudan recovered from an early Richard Okello goal to beat Uganda 3-2, securing qualification for the 2027 U-20 AFCON alongside hosts Tanzania. The two finalists took CECAFA’s two available qualification places.
The Hippos are currently scheduled to face Burundi in Thursday’s third-place playoff, while Sudan are due to meet Tanzania in the final.