Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, has announced that a thorough investigation is underway regarding the recent controversy involving Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Motsepe stated that the continental body will not accept any lack of sportsmanship or unfair treatment in African football.
During a press conference on Tuesday following the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he addressed the challenging conditions faced by the Nigerian national team during their trip to Libya, which raised concerns about player safety and fair treatment.
Read Also: Messi Scores Hat-Trick As Inter Miami Enter Club World Cup 2025
The Super Eagles encountered significant issues during their journey, including a redirected flight, an over 18-hour delay at the airport, and logistical complications that hindered their preparation.
While Motsepe did not specifically address the Nigeria-Libya situation, he confirmed that the incident is under investigation.
He stated, “It’s because when there was this problem with the Nigerian national team in Libya, and I will not comment on that, because there’s a proper investigation. But I want to emphasise a principle that we will not tolerate, because this is something that has been going on for quite some time.
“Your national team, let me emphasise, forget about the Nigeria and Libya situation, because that process has been properly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken.”
He further emphasized that such issues are not uncommon in African football, where visiting teams often experience poor treatment.
“Too many stories have been told of national teams or football clubs going to a country, and they spend hours at the airport, being asked about documents that don’t exist,” Motsepe said.
In his remarks, the CAF President stressed the importance of treating visiting teams with respect and dignity, highlighting the principle of fairness in competition.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
