CAF President Patrice Motsepe has called for improved treatment of visiting football teams in Africa, emphasizing a “zero tolerance” policy for unsportsmanlike behavior.
During the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF, Motsepe addressed recent incidents, particularly highlighting the poor treatment of Nigeria’s team in Libya during their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier.
He stated that CAF will not accept situations where teams face delays or unnecessary difficulties at airports.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
“I won’t comment on the specific issues the Nigerian team faced in Libya as there is an ongoing investigation and appropriate actions will be taken,” Motsepe said.
“However, I want to stress that we will not tolerate this. This has been a recurring issue. When a football club or national team arrives in a country, they shouldn’t have to spend hours at the airport or be asked for non-existent documents.”
He continued, “During COVID, there were cases where opponents would falsely claim that our best players had COVID. This lack of sportsmanship has persisted, and we have not taken effective action against it.”
“We are proud of those nations that treat visiting national teams and clubs with the respect and dignity they deserve,” he added.
It was reported that Nigeria’s Super Eagles were stranded for over 13 hours at a Libyan airport without food or water, which ultimately led to the cancellation of their match.
An official statement from CAF regarding the situation is expected on Wednesday, along with anticipated actions to address ongoing concerns about the treatment of teams across the continent.