The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its earlier decision to disqualify Gabon from the U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), restoring them to the tournament.
The CAF appeals committee accepted Gabon's appeal, overturning the initial ruling made by the disciplinary committee.
Gabon was initially disqualified from the U23 AFCON due to a registration error discovered by the CAF disciplinary committee.
However, it was determined that the error, which involved a mix-up in the date of birth of player Floriss Djave, was unintentional and not an act of fraud.
As a result of the reinstatement, Cameroon, which had taken Gabon's place in the tournament, will now be eliminated. Gabon's U23 team, the Panthers, had previously defeated Cameroon in the qualifiers, securing their spot in the competition.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw on aggregate, with Gabon emerging victorious in a penalty shootout.
The U23 AFCON, scheduled to take place in Morocco from 24 June to 8 July 2023, serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Gabon has been placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Mali, and Niger. Their campaign will commence on 25th June with a match against Mali.