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Gabonese Football Federation president arrested for failure to report pedophilia crime

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The President of the Gabonese Football Federation (Fégafoot), Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, has been arrested and indicted of “failure to report crimes of pedophilia” in a case of alleged sexual assault of hundreds of children by football coaches and officials under his watch, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Mounguengui, who was arrested earlier in the day has been placed under a committal order in the capital Libreville pending when he will be charged to court.

According to the lawyer, Charles-Henri Gey, Mounguengui, 64, who was re-elected president of the Fégafoot at the end of April, “has been indicted for not denouncing crimes of paedophilia, which he disputes.

“He has been placed under a committal order and we have requested his provisional release. Mr Mounguengui is accused of having covered up the alleged assaults committed by national team and club coaches and officials.

“This case is only a pretext for Pierre-Alain Mounguengui to be no longer president of the Fégafoot,” Gey said.

The scandal, which was first revealed by authoritative British daily, The Guardian, in December 2021 after an intensive underground investigation, broke when the then coach of the country’s U-17 national team, Patrick Assoumou Eyi, was jailed after being accused of hundreds of rapes and sexual assaults on children for whom he was responsible in his duties for several years.

Since Assoumou’s  Eyi arrest and conviction, two club coaches, Orphée Mickala and Triphel Mabicka, have also been indicted on the same charges and jailed with all three men facing up to 30 years in prison.

While world football body, Fifa, opened a disciplinary investigation on Tuesday targeting the three coaches accused of pedophilia as well as Mounguengui, Gabon’s Sports Minister, Franck Nguema, confirmed that Assoumou Eyi “allegedly abused hundreds of young boys in the course of his duties.”

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Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

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Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.

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SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

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South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with illness.

According to South African media, Moripe lit up the country’s football fields in the 1970s and became a rallying point for football in the country, especially in the apartheid era.

“Moripe, who mesmerised opponents and spectators alike during an injury ravaged career, spent his last years confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, and died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 71,” one media report said.

“Moripe, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players the country has produced by those who saw him play, was called “the god of football”’ by adoring fans during the early 1970s in a nod to his natural talents.

“He was feared by defenders and goalkeepers and his style of play was synonymous with flair, finesse and the golden era of South African football.

“In recent years Moripe was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a mild stroke that was worsened by the effects of a long-term knee injury that stopped his playing career in the late 1980s.

“Throughout his career, Moripe played for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies, winning the respect of both teammates and supporters.

“In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in honor of his noteworthy achievements to South African football. Major football games are still held at this stadium, which now stands as a tribute to his legacy.

“Moripe’s career highlights include leading Pretoria Callies to victory against top clubs and earning the 1973 NPSL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles.

“He also played internationally for Caroline Hill in Hong Kong and briefly for Orlando Pirates. Persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in the late 1980s.”

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