During a recent address at the CAF General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, CAF President Patrice Motsepe assured attendees that the incident involving Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Libya is under thorough investigation, and appropriate sanctions will be applied.
Motsepe remarked on the situation, acknowledging the concerns but refraining from commenting on its specifics due to the ongoing investigation. “When there was an issue with the Nigerian national team in Libya, I won’t delve into the details because we are conducting a proper investigation,” he stated. “However, I want to highlight that we will not tolerate certain behaviors, as this has been an ongoing issue.”
He emphasized, “Let’s not focus solely on the Nigeria and Libya incident, as that process is being properly handled, and the necessary actions will follow. We expect a CAF verdict on this matter soon.”
In light of the Super Eagles situation, Motsepe also underscored the need for sportsmanship among clubs and national teams. “I’ve heard numerous stories of football clubs or national teams arriving in a country, only to be held up for hours at the airport with arbitrary document checks,” he shared.
He continued, “During COVID, there were instances where officials would target your best players, falsely stating that those 10 individuals had COVID-19. When you presented test results proving otherwise, they still insisted you were infected. This kind of unprofessionalism has been prevalent, and we have not taken effective actions against it. If there are violations of regulations and rules, we will respond appropriately.”
Motsepe concluded by reiterating the pride that comes from nations that extend respect and dignity to visiting teams and clubs. “We encourage those who treat others the way they wish to be treated,” he said. “We are currently reviewing those regulations to promote sportsmanship in our community.”
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