Motsepe, Klopp, Le Roy, Eto'o, Belmadi: What was said about Afcon - the good and bad!

When Patrice Motsepe was elected African football supremo, he could never have imagined visiting grieving Cameroonians in the build-up to the Cup of Nations final less than one year later. 

A 24-team tournament designed to bring joy to the continent was enveloped in sadness on January 24 after eight men, women and children were crushed to death at the Stade Olembe in Yaounde.

They went to a stadium built for the event to cheer their beloved national team, the Indomitable Lions, but never returned home to recount how the hosts triumphed 2-1 and reached the quarter-finals.  

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Motsepe told the mourning families: "We are going, with the government, to stand by you in this difficult ordeal because you must not be alone."

A Cup of Nations delayed three years by slow construction, the coronavirus and unfavourable weather conditions delivered drama on and off the field and AFP Sport recalls what some of those involved said: 

"If that gate was open, as it was supposed to be, we would not have had this problem, this loss of life. Who closed that gate?"

- Motsepe speaks after eight people died and 38 were injured in a crush at Olembe Stadium

"We cannot feel the same pain as you but we have come to offer you the condolences and solidarity of the entire African football family and CAF."

- Motsepe talks to families of deceased

"In January, there is a little tournament in Africa."

- Manager Jurgen Klopp at a Liverpool press conference

"Who does he think he is? I respect Liverpool but not Klopp, who undermines African football. He is where he is today because of African footballers."

- Senegal coach Aliou Cisse responds to Klopp

"I did not mean it like that. I do not know why you understand it like