Kinshasa, March 16th, 2023 (CPA). – The management committee of DC Motema Pembe of Kinshasa has officially referred to the Congolese Federation of Association Football (FECOFA) to lodge a complaint with CAF against the Nigerian club Rivers United FC for ill-treatment against the delegation of his team in Lagos, before the match of the 4th day of group B of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup, in a correspondence, a copy of which was received on Wednesday, CPA
« We come respectfully to your high authority to ask you to refer to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about the inhuman treatment that our athletes have suffered upon arrival at the airport in Lagos, Nigeria: confiscated passports, excessive harassment at the immigration services until spending the night of March 8th to 9th on the ground at the airport without assistance or protection, « said the letter of the DCMP.
According to the leaders of the Kinshasa club, this inhuman treatment does not meet the requirements of the regulations issued by CAF.
« The attached images which are making news on social networks and which tend to discredit the good organisation of competitions, sufficiently prove that this inhumane treatment does not meet the requirements of the regulations issued by CAF. You will therefore note with us that the Rivers club has not taken any protocolary measures to secure the DCMP-K delegation and provide them with the hospitality they legitimately expected, » the letter read.
He added, « Such unsportsmanlike behaviour deserves severe sanctions for influencing the outcome of the match and creating psychosis among our club’s delegation. We ask the Division of Interclub Competitions, which binds us in copy, to want to rule on the case and think about the future to protect the clubs of our group B, » concludes the correspondence of Motema Pembe of Kinshasa.
The Immaculate, who had enormous difficulties to reach Lagos after obtaining the postponement of the match of 24 hours, did not make the weight against Rivers (3-1).
With 2 points, DCMP still holds its destiny in hand, provided it negotiates its last two games against ASEC Mimosa (Ivory Coast) and Diables noirs (Congo/Brazzaville) respectively.
