AFCON 2023: Patrice Motsepe wants to guarantee safety in stadiums

At the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, the Olembé tragedy shook the continent. On 24 January 2022, a crush took place before the match between the Indomitable Lions and Comoros. It caused the deaths of 8 people, as well as leaving several others injured. And for the 2023 AFCON, CAF president Patrice Motsepe wants better safety.

"When families come to watch a football match, they must be absolutely certain that, from the point of view of CAF and our partners, we have done everything possible, in line with global best practice, to guarantee the safety of the facilities and infrastructure. There is zero tolerance", Patrice Motsepe said, as reported by BBC Sport Africa. Ahead of this 2023 AFCON, the CAF chief also spoke about the Olembé tragedy. "Some mistakes were made, and some of them could have been avoided. We are very clear that the quality of the infrastructure to host Africa's biggest competition must be world class. What we will do over the coming months is make sure that the infrastructure as a whole is excellent," Patrice Motsepe said.

The media must help

Moreover, with the aim of guaranteeing spectator safety in the various stadiums at the 2023 AFCON, Patrice Motsepe would like the media's help. They are the guardians of information, so they must publicise any shortcomings, if there are any. "Part of the media's role is to criticise us and identify areas where there are gaps and weaknesses. That is why it is very, very important that we work with the media so that they can help us identify some of the areas which, in your view (the media's), require urgent attention. We have a team of people who have been here for six months and who work daily with the government."