The Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ruled in favour of Nigeria following the Super Eagles mistreatment in Libya for their matchday four fixture in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers, Afrosport reports.
The CAF Disciplinary Board, which met on October 23, revealed that the Libya Football Federation (LFF) was in breach of CAF rules and has decided to award the Super Eagles with all three points as well as a 3-0 score owing to a forfeiture imposed on Libya.
The body also instructed the LFF to pay a fine of USD 50,000, which is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the decision.
The Super Eagles defeated the Mediterranean Knights 1-0 in Uyo on October 11, and on Sunday, October 13, the team headed to Libya for the return fixture of their double-header, which was scheduled for the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, Benina, on October 15.
However, they were met with harsh treatment as shortly before landing, Libyan authorities diverted their plane from its initial destination of Benghazi to a smaller airport in Al-Abraq.
The Nigerian entourage were left stranded at the Al-Abraq Airport in unfavorable conditions for over 15 hours without food, water, or internet service. They were also denied the opportunity to leave the airport or seek accommodation, allegedly on the orders of the Libyan authorities, who claimed they were also exposed to a similar treatment during their visit to Nigeria.
Notwithstanding, CAF intervened in the matter by initially delisting the match before directing the two parties to its Disciplinary Board chaired by Senegal’s Ousmane Kane. Other members of the board include Njeri Onyango (Kenya), Felix Golbassia (Chad), Patrick Shale (Lesotho), and Norman Arendse (South Africa).
In a communiqué sent to the LFF, dated Saturday, October 26, the CAF Disciplinary Board wrote: “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).
“All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
News just in:@CAF_Online decisions on the Libya vs Nigeria #2025AFCONQ scheduled for Benina, Libya.
Libya to forfeit the game(meaning 3 points, 3 goals to Nigeria’s @NGSuperEagles).
Libya fined $50k to be paid in 60 days.#SoarSuperEagles. pic.twitter.com/J7gbY9B7tZ
— Oluwatoyin Ibitoye (@Toyin_Ibitoye) October 26, 2024
This ruling from CAF puts an end to the uncertainty surrounding the situation and lays a marker for any such occurrences in the future.
The Super Eagles will remain atop Group D with 10 points and a plus-seven goal difference, four points more than Benin Republic in second place and five more than third-placed Rwanda, as Libya remains rooted to the bottom.
Augustine Eguavoen’s team will play next on November 14 at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, before hosting Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on November 18, in the last round of matches in the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers.
