CAF Apologises to South Africa After Anthem Mix Up Before Women's Africa Cup of Nations Match Against Tunisia

CAF Apologises to South Africa After Anthem Mix Up Before Women's Africa Cup of Nations Match Against Tunisia

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
  • The continent's football governing body CAF has apologised to the South African delegation currently at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco
  • Ahead of the quarterfinal match against Tunisia, only the last part of the national anthem was played
  • In a letter of apology, CAF attributed this mix-up to a technical error, and was not done with the intention to cause any harm

CAF has apologised to SAFA and Banyana Banyana for an embarrassing incident ahead of last Thursday's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Tunisia in Morocco.

During the national anthems, only the last part of 'Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika', was played. Confusion was visible on the South African players, technical staff and managerial delegation's faces.

caf, banyana banyana, south africa, 2022 women's africa cup of nations, veron mosengo-omba, national anthem, tebogo motlanthe, tunisia, safa
CAF's general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba apologised on behalf of the organisation to South Africa for an embarrassing anthem gaffe.
Source: UGC

According to iDiski Times, CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba sent a letter of apology to SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe. In this document, the Sunday World reported that Mosengo-Omba wrote that there was no sinister motive for the incident, with it being attributed to a technical error.

It read:

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"We would like to convey our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience that the incident might have caused. We would like to assure you that the incident in question was purely caused by a technical error from the operator of the sound system in the stadium and was not of a sabotaging nor undermining nature.
“In fact, the General Coordinator of the match, who is of South African Nationality, is the sole responsible to ensuring that participating teams’ national anthems are properly played. Therefore, we would like to reiterate that it is no one’s benefit for this incident to occur during a CAF competition."

Economic Freedom Fighters demand equal pay for the outstanding Banyana Banyana

The South African women's national team has found itself an ally in the most unexpected but ultimately unsurprising of places.

As reported by Sports Brief, the Economic Freedom Fighters have come forward and called for Banyana Banyana to receive the same pay as their underperforming male counterpart Bafana Bafana.

The EFF released a press statement imploring SAFA, the government and sponsors to throw behind the side, which is chasing its first-ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations tournament out in Morocco.

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Keba Mothoagae
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South AfricaSouth Africa Football Association (SAFA)World