More has to be done to make Gabonnes's football more festive, said the Fifpro Union of Players, after a former youth coach, convicted of sexual abuse of players, has been banned from life from the governing body of world football, FIFA.
On Tuesday, FIFA ruled that Patrick Asumu Ah, who has been the chief trainer of Gabon's national youth teams for decades, had sexually abused many young boys throughout his career.
EYI was baptized in a 2023. BBC Africa Eye Investigation of Widespread Abuse Accuses that struck Gabon footballS
In the investigation, a former Gabonese International said EYI occupies the “position of God” as it has the power to decide who will play for Gabon's youth teams.
Eyi – widely known as Capello – was “just one of the several Gaboni football figures who exploited their power,” Fifpro said in a statement on Wednesday.
Although the Union welcomed FIFA's decision to ban the former coach of all football activities, he said football in the central African country would not be safe until “all perpetrators and those who allowed them to be tried.”
EYI had recognized charges of rape, rearing and exploitation of young players after the allegations were first reported by the United Kingdom Guardian Newspaper in 2021
The FIFA Independent Ethics Committee began its investigation on EYI later that year.
In addition to being banned for life, EYI is fined with one million Swiss francs (880,000 pounds; $ 1.1 million). He is currently in prison.
“The Eyi investigation refers to complaints of at least four male football players who accused him of sexual abuse between 2006 and 2021. Most of these incidents happened while players were minors,” the FIFA statement said.
One of the alleged victims of EYI, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC on Wednesday that he was pleased with the ban.
“But on the other hand, I'm not happy because I don't want to stop there. It's a whole network, a system that needs to be dismantled, with many predators being released,” they said.
In 2023, the BBC Africa talked with more that 30 witnesses who talked about a sexual abuse network that has affected all levels of Gabon football for three decades.
A victim said he was abused as a teenager in a football camp under 17. Another who has been playing for the Gabon national team for several years has said he has been attacked since the age of 14.
Along with the perpetrators of the abuse, the management bodies such as Feea of Fegafut, Fegafut, have been accused of failing to protect young victims.
Both bodies denied the allegations against them.