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Gabon kit man arrested after Afcon return over sex abuse allegations

Saturday, January 29th, 2022 02:00 | By
Serge Mombo- a designated kit man in Cameroon.

A member of Gabon’s football federation (Fegafoot) was arrested on the tarmac of Libreville’s international airport moments after the team’s plane returned from the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Serge Mombo was a designated kit man in Cameroon, where the Gabonese were knocked out of the competition in the last 16 by Burkina Faso on Sunday.

The arrest is part of the Gabonese government’s inquiry into alleged widespread sexual abuse in football following allegations reported by a British newspaper.

Mombo has denied any wrongdoing.

Five members of Gabon’s football community have now been arrested following allegations made against them of raping and sexually abusing minors.

These include Patrick Eyi, a former coach of Gabon’s national Under-17 team widely known as ‘Capello’, as well as three local lower-tier coaches.

Prior to December’s arrest of Capello - who denies allegations he raped and sexually abused young footballers - Gabon’s Sports Ministry had said the sexual abuse of minors in the country by multiple accused perpetrators could number ‘hundreds of alleged victims’.

BBC Sport Africa has sought comment on the case from Gabon’s Sports Minister but received no reply.

Gabon’s President Ali Bongo, meanwhile, has previously described the claims as “very serious”.

Mombo is accused of sexually abusing young players and demanding sex as a condition of them securing places in national teams.

“Serge Mombo was a predator,” one alleged victim told the Guardian earlier this month. He offered us sexual propositions in exchange for a place in the team in the future. When you start to dream, they asked for sex.

“Basically, he told me: ‘If you want to stay with us, you’ll need to give me something.’ I asked what and he answered: ‘Your arse.’”

Mombo told the Guardian his accusers were “lying to try to dirty my image”.

Mombo has blamed the allegations on his re-election as head of Gabon’s senior football league last June and questioned the timing of the piece, as it came out on the eve of Fegafoot’s executive committee elections.

“I was an international referee, am today president of the league and I have never been in the centre of these things which I condemn,” he said earlier this month adding that he is going to use all legal means to clean his reputation.

Following the reports, investigations have been opened by football’s world governing body Fifa, the Gabonese government as well as Fegafoot.

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