Super Eagles Get CAF’s Clean Bill, Hammer Falls on Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Others

Femi Solajawith agency report

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared all Super Eagles players of any wrongdoings during the  AFCON 2023 tournament. Nigerian clubs in inter club competitions were also absolved of any wrong-doing.

The three-time African champions finished as runners up after losing the final match of the tournament 1-2  to host Côte d’Ivoire.

Four teams, including hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Congo Democratic Republic played the seven maximum matches culminating in the final and the classification third-place match but Nigerian players were not found wanting for any on and off-field sanctions.

Only Nigeria’s Portuguese gaffer, Jose Peseiro got a caution card in the first quarter of the final match with the Elephants when involved in an altercation with the fourth referee on the sideline.

In the report of the tournament, CAF Disciplinary Board meted out various punishments to winners Côte d’Ivoire, deposed defending champions Senegal and Mali for various infractions.

The Fédération Malienne de Football was charged with misconduct following unsporting behaviour of its players towards the match officials.

The Disciplinary Board found the player Hamari Traore guilty of unsporting conduct towards match officials. He is therefore suspended for four matches.

Two of the four are suspended for a year. In addition, the Fédération Malienne de Football was also fined 10,000 US Dollars.

The Ivorian  football federation was also charged over the team’s misconduct in their match with Mali. The Ivorian FA is to pay a  $5,000 fine.

In the Round of 16 match between Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire, a Senegalese player, Krepin Diatta, was charged with bringing CAF into disrepute following comments he made after the match.

The Disciplinary Board found him guilty and is hereby suspended for four matches, two of which are suspended for one year. He was also fined 10,000 US Dollars.

The Senegal FA  was also charged for Teranga Lions’ misconduct and fined 5,000 US Dollars.

CAF also extended the punishments to misconducts in a Confederation Cup match between Al Hilal SC of Libya and Future FC of Egypt.

Al Hilal SC  was charged with misconduct following incidents involving unruly behaviors of their home fans. 

They were found guilty and will play their next two CAF Inter Club matches behind closed doors. Al Hilal SC was also fined 15,000 US Dollars.