CAF president Patrice Motsepe: “Treat visiting football clubs and national teams with respect and dignity”

The Libya and Nigeria brouhaha is still under investigations at CAF’s headquarters, per Patrice Motsepe, the president of African Football. He promised that an appropriate action will be taken when the investigations are over.

Nigeria was due to play Libya in Week 4 of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in Benghazi but the game was postponed after Libya failed to welcome Nigeria as expected.

Williams Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles skipper revealed that they were left stranded at airport for 16 hrs and decided to return home with his mates.

It shocked the continent with many accusing Libya of being disrespectful and unwelcoming.

Speaking about the incident at the 46th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Motsepe however disclosed that CAF as a body will not tolerate lack of sportsmanship.

“It is the lack of sportsmanship that has overtaken and taken effect. I just want to repeat that we are proud of those nations that treat visiting teams and visiting football clubs with the respect and dignity that they deserved, and who also treat them in the same way they want to be treated when they visit those countries.

It was a mega issue in the 90s and the early 2000s on the continent as many teams reported to CAF over poor treatments by their opponents. When we all thought it was all over, then Libya and Nigeria case popped up sending the continent back to the 80s and 90s.

“So I want to repeat that we are reviewing those laws and we want to emphasise sportsmanship. When a national team or football club visits, treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve, and if there are violations of those rules, then we will take action.”

Dr Patrice Motsepe has promised stiffer punishment for any side that will treat a visiting team horribly.