African Youth Championship

Egypt have been impressive in the tournament

South Africa coach Boebie Wiiliams said the growth of African football is being stunted by rampant age-falsification at youth championships.

His team was unable to qualify from Group A, getting only a point from its three games.

"I'm amazed at the physique of players from certain countries," he told BBC Sport Online's Durosimi Thomas.

"We are not living in the fourth world in South Africa and these boys are bigger than us.

"What are these players eating? Some extra batteries, acid or what?," he angrily asked.

Williams alleged that some players from other countries have admitted they are over the legally permitted age for the competition but have still been allowed to compete.

"I find it strange that some players have admitted that there are as old as 24 and 26.

It is this dishonesty that has destroyed us in the past Boebie Williams

"Who is responsible for this? Shouldn't it be the people in charge of the competition?"

The South Africa coach insists that the presence of over-aged players in youth competitions defeats the purpose of finding new, exciting talent that will push the African game to greater heights.

He warned that if the problem is not taken seriously by Caf, it could have disastrous consequences for the game's growth in the continent.

"Are we really trying to uplift the reputation of African football?

"It is this dishonesty that has destroyed us in the past."

Nigeria, one of the powerhouses of youth football in Africa, fell foul of Fifa regulations in the late 80's, receiving a long ban.

Inconsistencies were found in the ages of two players - Dahiru Sadi and Andrew Uwe - that featured for the Super Eagles at the 1988 Olympic tournament in Seoul, South Korea.

The ages on the passports taken to the Olympics were inconsistent with dates they had declared earlier.

Both players had respectively featured for the Flying Eagles at the 1983 and 1985 World Youth Championships in Mexico and the former Soviet Union.