Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing following the recent controversy surrounding Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Speaking at a press conference after the 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, Motsepe stressed that CAF would not tolerate unsportsmanlike behaviour or unfair treatment in African football.

The Nigerian national team encountered significant difficulties during their trip to Libya, including an unexpected flight redirection, an 18-hour delay at the airport, and logistical challenges that disrupted their match preparations.

Motsepe refrained from commenting specifically on the Nigeria-Libya incident, saying, “There is a proper investigation into the matter, and appropriate action will be taken. However, I want to emphasise that CAF will not tolerate such issues, which have persisted for too long.”

He also pointed out a recurring problem in African football, where visiting teams face undue difficulties, often being held up at airports over non-existent documentation.

“Too many stories have been told about national teams or football clubs arriving in certain countries, only to be delayed for hours over irrelevant paperwork,” Motsepe added.

The CAF President underscored the importance of fair play and the need to treat visiting teams with respect and dignity.