Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has emphasized the urgent need to address the issue of unsportsmanlike conduct among some African nations.
Speaking at the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Motsepe stressed that such behavior must be combated to maintain the integrity of African football competitions.
During his address, Motsepe highlighted various instances of misconduct faced by football teams while traveling between African countries.
He pointed to incidents of prolonged delays at airports and allegations that players were falsely diagnosed with COVID-19 to prevent them from participating in matches.
“I have heard numerous stories of clubs and teams traveling to different countries only to be subjected to long delays at airports, with the validity of their documents being questioned,” Motsepe said.
“This was particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when claims were made that top players had tested positive for the virus despite negative results, with the aim of sidelining them from important matches.”
Motsepe acknowledged that this lack of sportsmanship has been an ongoing issue, stating, “This kind of unsporting behavior has been around for a long time, and we have not taken effective action.
We will now be strict when it comes to violations of the regulations.
We take pride in the countries that treat visiting clubs with respect and dignity, and we expect them to be treated similarly when they are the guests.”
He also addressed the recent controversy surrounding the cancellation of the Nigeria-Libya match during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“I will not comment in detail on this matter as the investigation is still ongoing, but I can confirm that we will not tolerate any actions that violate the spirit of fair play,” said Motsepe.
The Nigerian national team had filed a complaint about their treatment in Libya, claiming they were held for over 14 hours at Al-Abraq Airport in the city of Al-Bayda.
According to reports, the team was delayed due to alleged issues with the passport system, which left them unable to participate in the anticipated match against Libya.
They eventually returned to Nigeria without playing.
Motsepe reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to revising its regulations to ensure adherence to fair play principles and promised to take necessary measures against any violations.
He stressed that upholding sportsmanship is critical to preserving the integrity of competitions across the continent.
“The spirit of sportsmanship is essential for the integrity of our games,” Motsepe concluded.
“We will make every effort to ensure that all teams are treated fairly and that the rules are respected, so the best of African football can shine on the global stage.”
