Gabon's predators on the pitch: Inside a paedophile football scandal

BBC Africa Eye speaks to more than 30 witnesses about a network of abuse that continued for decades.

Football's governing bodies face accusations they failed to protect young victims of sexual abuse in Gabon. BBC Africa Eye spoke to more than 30 witnesses who told of a network that has plagued all levels of the game for three decades.The allegations of sexual abuse in the central African country of Gabon date as far back as the early 1990s.

"They told me I would never be selected to play ever again and that if I dared speak to anyone about what happened, my family would be killed."Former Gabon international Parfait Ndong, pictured here at his academy, says he was ignored when he raised the alarm He said after these efforts were ignored, he turned to local media: "No-one wanted to hear what I had to say.", that four coaches were arrested. Three of them remain in prison.

"So, they arrested Capello but how long have they known and not done anything about it? They stopped at the lowest level. It goes all the way to the top, but they will do anything to cover it up. Capello is a scapegoat. It is the heads at the top that should be rolling." Despite calls for Fegafoot chief Pierre-Alain Mounguengui to resign, he remained in charge and was re-elected in April 2022.

Fifa's child safeguarding policy states: "Suspending a staff member from his/her duties while an external investigation takes place should be standard practice." In May 2022, Fifa formally suspended Capello, two other coaches and the football league head, but did not sanction Mr Mounguengui. Three months ago, Mr Mounguengui was re-elected to the highest ranks of Caf as a member of its executive committee. Last week, he was pictured alongside Caf executives in Cairo for the Africa Cup of Nation hosts announcement.

Fegafoot and Mr Mounguengui denied all the allegations made against them and said appropriate action was taken as soon as any allegations of sexual abuse in Gabonese football were made public.

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