The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared Nigeria and all Super Eagles players of any wrongdoing during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nigeria’s performance in the tournament did not incur any infractions, according to CAF’s investigations.
Key Points:
- Super Eagles Performance: Nigeria had a strong showing at AFCON 2023, playing seven matches, winning five, drawing one, and suffering a single defeat in the final against host nation Cote d’Ivoire.
- Unbeaten Streak: The Super Eagles maintained an unbeaten streak in their first six matches, impressing throughout the tournament.
- Clearance from CAF: CAF’s investigations found no wrongdoing on the part of Nigeria and the Super Eagles players during AFCON 2023.
- Sanctions on Other Teams: In contrast, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal faced sanctions from the CAF Disciplinary Board. Mali and Cote d’Ivoire were specifically penalized for their knockout round clash on February 3rd.
- Mali Sanctions: The Malian Football Federation faced charges of misconduct due to unsporting behavior by its players towards the match official. Player Hamari Traore received a four-match suspension, with two matches suspended for one year, and the federation incurred a fine of $10,000.
- Cote d’Ivoire Sanctions: The Ivorian Football Federation faced charges of team misconduct and received a $5,000 fine.
- Post-Match Comments: Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal also faced disciplinary actions for their conduct during their knockout round match on January 29th. Ivorian player Krepin Diatta faced charges of bringing CAF into disrepute due to comments made post-match.
Nigeria’s clean bill from CAF reinforces the positive performance of the Super Eagles during AFCON 2023, highlighting their fair play and adherence to regulations throughout the tournament.