The Confederation of African Football has suspended one of its media officers for five years after he was accused of sexually abusing a female official during the African Nations Championship being played in Algeria.
The Guardian understands that Sohounde Peperipé – a Beninese journalist who has been working as one of the confederation’s media officers on a freelance basis during the tournament for African players playing in their national leagues – was accused of sexually abusing the female official from Morocco in his hotel bedroom in Algiers last weekend. It is understood that she was invited to his bedroom after requesting an all-access pass and was allegedly sexually assaulted.
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Peperipé is believed to have returned to Benin after being sanctioned by Caf, although the alleged victim has lodged a complaint with Algerian police alleging sexual assault. A spokesman for African football’s governing body declined to comment. Peperipé has denied the accusations and said he had been suspended without being allowed to present his side of the story.
Peperipé, a former volleyball and table tennis player, was named last year “best sports journalist of all time” by the Francophone Observatory Medias Success Plus, having worked as the French radio station RFI’s correspondent in Benin for more than 20 years.
