Uganda have formally challenged their elimination from the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, accusing Sudan of fielding two ineligible players.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations filed its protest with the CECAFA Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday, September 23, following Uganda’s 3-2 semifinal defeat to Sudan.
FUFA wants Sudan to forfeit the match, with Uganda awarded a 3-0 victory, a decision that would alter the qualification outcome if upheld.
The protest identifies Sudan players Wail Galal Omer Alnoor, who wore No.22, and Rudwan Yahya Mohamed Ishag, who wore No.15.
Both featured in Tuesday’s semifinal at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where Sudan secured one of CECAFA’s places at next year’s U-20 AFCON.
The development expands an eligibility question first surrounding Alnoor, whose date of birth differs across documents seen by CK Sports Africa.
The official CAF match start list records Alnoor as being born on May 29, 2010, making him 16 during the tournament.
However, FUFA’s protest says Sudan Football Association registration records and an Al Hilal player licence identify the same player as born on May 29, 2005.
The Al Hilal licence submitted as part of FUFA’s evidence carries Alnoor’s name and a May 29, 2005 date of birth.
FUFA argues that the matching name, FIFA ID and registration details establish that the records concern the same player.
The federation says Alnoor would have been 21 on matchday and consequently ineligible for the U-20 competition.
But FUFA’s protest has now introduced a second and potentially significant eligibility challenge involving Rudwan.
According to the match start list, the Sudan No.15 was registered with a date of birth of August 1, 2008.
FUFA says checks on FIFA Connect and the CAF Competition Management System produced a different date for a player bearing the same name and FIFA ID.
Those records, according to the protest, list Rudwan Yahya Mohamed Ishag as having been born on August 1, 2000.
One of the documents attached to the protest shows FIFA ID 1TCN375 alongside Rudwan’s name and an August 1, 2000 birth date.
A separate document included in FUFA’s evidence also displays Rudwan Yahya with the same 2000 birth year.
FUFA argues that would have made Rudwan 26 when he appeared against Uganda, placing him outside the age requirements of the competition.
The Ugandan federation has cited Article 27 of the competition regulations, which places responsibility on associations for the accuracy of player information.
It has also cited regulations concerning non-qualified players, alleged falsification of official documents and possible sanctions arising from eligibility breaches.
FUFA wants the disciplinary committee to find both players ineligible and hold the Sudan Football Association responsible for presenting their player information.
More significantly for Uganda’s qualification hopes, FUFA is asking for Sudan to forfeit the semifinal and for Uganda to be awarded the match 3-0.
The federation has also requested a fine against Sudan and an investigation into what it describes as possible falsification of official documents.
FUFA further wants homologation of the match result withheld until the disciplinary committee determines the protest.
The protest was signed by FUFA Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson Suubi and copied to the Confederation of African Football.
The allegations remain subject to determination by the relevant disciplinary authorities, and the documents submitted by FUFA do not themselves constitute a ruling against Sudan or either player.