Rising Star Faces Age fraud Scandal: Guinea-Bissau‘s Alamara Djabi Under Scrutiny
Alamara Viriata Djabi, a young footballer from guinea-Bissau attracting attention in European leagues, is at the center of a growing scandal involving allegations of falsified age documentation. The accusations, first reported by Portuguese newspaper Público, claim Djabi misrepresented his age upon arriving in Portugal in 2019.
While presented as a 13-year-old, evidence suggests Djabi was actually 19 years old at the time.Documents reportedly show a change in his official birthdate from September 28, 2000, to September 28, 2006 – a manipulation allegedly used to allow him to compete in younger youth academy categories.
This case highlights a troubling pattern within African football, where age fraud is reportedly a recurring issue. Sources indicate counterfeit documents are not uncommon amongst aspiring athletes in Guinea-Bissau seeking opportunities abroad. However, the Djabi situation is notably concerning due to its potential implications for the integrity of youth progress systems and the roles played by agents and clubs.
Currently playing for Danish club FC Midtjylland, Djabi’s past affiliations with Benfica’s academy and Mafra, a club in the Portuguese second league, are now under renewed scrutiny. FC Midtjylland has issued a statement maintaining they operate solely on the basis of officially provided documentation, stating they have “no reason to contradict their validity.”
Djabi himself has offered limited comment,asserting he has “always performed on the basis of documents presented and considered them legitimate.” The scandal raises questions about the oversight mechanisms in place and the interconnected obligation of agents, clubs, national registries, and international football federations in preventing such practices. The case threatens to tarnish the reputation of a promising talent and underscores the challenges facing the sport in combating age deception.