The Organising Committee of the Abidjan quadrangular international football tournament has struck out an appeal case lodged against Gambia for an alleged fielding in of an over-aged player.

Niger filed an appeal against Gambia shortly after their 1-1 draw match on Thursday, claiming that the Gambia intentionally fielded an over-aged player in the person of Sainey Touray, commonly known as Ballack.

The Wallidan youngster, who is widely touted as being the next Gambia’s hero, was born on February 8, 1990 and Niger protested that he has already reached his seventeenth year birthday, thus he is not legible to play in the Abidjan Championship.

The matter, which was the first appeal case since the start of the tournament, was heard by the Organising Committee in a special meeting held on Friday, August 9, before it was struck out for lacking the concrete ground.

"Considering that the reclamation intervened in conformity with Article 22 of the General Regulations of the African Under 17 tournament, the case is receivable."

"But, according to the General Regulations of the same tournament (African U-17 Championship), any player born from January 1, 1990, or after is qualified to play in an U-17 competition in 2007. And Sainey Touray, who was born on February 8, 1990, falls under this age bracket; therefore, he is eligible to play in the Championship."

"Against this background, we found Niger’s appeal as groundless and irrelevant, hence its rejection," Mr. Bled Dominique, Chairman of the Organising Committee told Observer Sports.