Le Roy cries foul after loss

The coach of Congo’s Olympic team, Claude Le Roy, has accused Ghana's under-23 side, Black Meteors, of using over-aged players for the 2015 CAF U-23 Championship qualifier first leg match played at the Accra Stadium last Saturday.

Le Roy, who handled Ghana’s Black Stars between 2006 and 2008, questioned the ages of some Meteors players during a post-match press briefing after his side had lost 0-1 to the Meteors. 

He alleged that some of the Ghanaian players had represented the nation seven years ago in the qualifying stages of the 2009 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and at the time were 20 years.

"It's a big advantage for Meteors, not for Congo. But in this Congo team, you have six players with real age but not like some players in Ghana today," the former Black Stars trainer said in reference to the six players in his side with national team experience, including goalkeepers Christoffer Mafoumbi and Pavelh Ndzila, defender Sagesse Babele and striker Sylvere Ganvoula.

"If you want me to go further, I will go further. Some of the players fielded today played with me in the CHAN qualifiers in 2008. I left this country in May 2008. That was seven years ago, at this time they were already 20," the experienced 67-year-old lamented.

"I am sure of what I am telling you, you have some players who played with me in the CHAN qualifiers in Niamey against Niger. It is not an allegation it is a reality, you should ask the players," he continued.

He also disclosed that he was surprised by his side's performance, given the quality of the Meteors.

"I am surprised by my team’s performance, really I told the players we are not at the level of Ghana, who have been thrice at the World Cup, always close to the African title, champions at U-20 and still in New Zealand with Sellas Tetteh but we are improving after 15 years”.

The Frenchman is no stranger to making wild allegations after football matches, threatening to report South Africa coach, Shakes Mashaba, to CAF and FIFA for making an obscene gesture to him following a 0-0 draw in an African Nations Cup qualifier in 2014. He however failed to substantiate or report those allegations.