President of Confederation of African Football Criticizes Poor Treatment of Visiting Teams in African Football
Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football has criticized African nations and clubs for creating challenging conditions for visiting teams, particularly regarding inadequate transportation, accommodations, and training facilities.
He expressed concern over the treatment of teams during their visits, highlighting the need for improvements in sportsmanship and hospitality in African football.
The recent situation involving Nigeria’s national team during their AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya exemplified this issue. The Super Eagles were subjected to a 20-hour ordeal at the airport without food or water, leading to the cancellation of the match. Motsepe emphasized that such incidents are unacceptable and detrimental to the spirit of the game.
During the CAF 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, he reiterated the importance of treating visiting teams with respect and dignity. He acknowledged that violations of regulations would not be tolerated and stated that CAF is reviewing its laws to promote better sportsmanship across the continent.
While acknowledging the ongoing investigation into the incident involving Nigeria and Libya, Motsepe affirmed that appropriate actions would be taken based on the findings. Both nations are set to receive a verdict from CAF’s Disciplinary Committee, which is expected to address the issues raised during the assembly.
