Gabon risks sanctions from CAF ahead of AFCON 2021

 By Bih Emmaculate

Cross section of the Gabonese national team( web image)

The disciplinary council of the Confederation of African Football, CAF has given Gabon a period of 24hours to explain reasons for going against CAF rules by changing hotels.

The Panthers of Gabon violated CAFs rules after deciding to Lodge at Star Land hotel in Bastos instead of Hotel La Falaise as originally chosen by CAF. The Gabonese side arrived Cameroon on Wednesday and were expected to Lodge in Hotel La Falaise which was one of the lodging facilities earmarked by CAF for the 2021 AFCON. CAF had in this regard, sent a table of the various hotels and training sites of each team since August 2021. The hotels were carefully selected to meet security demands among others but Gabon surprisingly ignored the schedule.

In a press release signed by the president of the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football, Raymond Hack, Gabon has been given a limited time to explain their actions..."we were surprised to learn that your delegation went against the instructions of CAF and went on to Lodge at Star Land hotel... By consequence, you are called upon to furnish us with an explanation of this violation between now and tomorrow morning at 11 am.."

This comes barely two days to the start of the African cup of Nations in Cameroon and three days to Gabons' opening match against Comorose at the Amadou Ahidjo stadium