The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a win and the full three points in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with Libya that was postponed this month.
The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to play against the Libyan team at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi on October 15, in matchday four of the AFCON qualification series. However, when the Nigerian team’s flight landed at the Al Abaq airport, they were held ‘’hostage’ for over 20 hours without food and drinks.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would later announce the Super Eagles’ withdrawal from the qualifying match and asked them to return home.
Reacting, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) said the flight diversion experienced by the Nigerian national team was not “intentional”.
However following an investigation, CAF found the Libyan team guilty of breaching article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The 5-point decision reads:
‘’The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000.
The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
CAF president, Patrice Motsepe had earlier said that the continental body would not tolerate any lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment in African football.
With the decision, Nigeria now has ten (10) points from four games and remain at the top of Group D.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has lauded the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award Nigeria the three points against Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
On Saturday, October 26, a statement signed by CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, Ousmane Kane said the decision to award Nigeria the points was taken after findings by the disciplinary committee it set up to look into the matter, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Nigerian senior men’s football team.
Nigerian players and officials were stranded for hours at a Libyan airport and denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honour their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with the Mediterranean Knights.
Reacting to the development on X, Troost-Ekong praised the CAF ruling and noted that the Super Eagles are one step closer to AFCON 2025.
Troost-Ekong, a nominee for the CAF Player of the Year award, was pleased to see Nigeria’s decision to refuse to play Libya vindicated.
“JUSTICE: CAF awards three points and three goals to Nigeria. Libya fined $50,000,” he wrote on X.
“Plane was diverted 300km from the scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel. One step closer to our target AFCON 2025.”
