CAF tribunal hands Super Eagles 3-0 win, slams Libya with hefty fine

• CAF awarded Nigeria a forfeit win against Libya in their AFCON qualifier after Libya was found in violation of CAF regulations
• The ruling pushes Nigeria closer to AFCON qualification, as they now lead their group with 10 points 
• Libya reportedly has plans to appeal the decision, disputing the ruling and the circumstances surrounding the abandoned match

The Confederation of African Football’s Disciplinary Committee has made a big decision in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, awarding the Super Eagles three points and three goals due to the match’s abandonment. 

TheRadar earlier reported that the match’s controversy began when Nigeria’s team refused to participate, citing serious safety concerns after spending more than 18 hours stranded at Al-Abraq airport. In response, the LFF accused Nigeria’s Football Federation of mishandling their own travel arrangements, further alleging that Libyan players experienced similar delays during their visit to Nigeria for the earlier reverse fixture.

Originally set for October 15, the game in Benina, Libya faced sudden cancellation, a situation CAF’s Disciplinary Board scrutinised closely, resulting in penalties for the Libyan Football Federation (LFF).

Signed by Disciplinary Board chairman Ousmane Kane, the ruling on Saturday, October 25 pointed to Libya's violation of Article 31 from the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations and additional breaches under Articles 82 and 151 of CAF’s Disciplinary Code, 

“The Libyan Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa 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 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi), is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (with a record of 3-0),” the statement read.

The penalties just didn’t stop there, CAF also levelled a $50,000 fine on the LFF with a strict 60-day deadline for payment. The outcome of the ruling has boosted Nigeria’s qualifying standing, giving the Super Eagles 10 points after four matches. 

Now leading Group D, the Super Eagles sit four points above Benin Republic, their nearest group rival, with Rwanda at five points and Libya languishing at the bottom with just one point. With a win or draw against Benin Republic on November 14, Nigeria could officially secure their place at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.

In light of the ruling, Libya’s Football Federation announced plans to contest the decision, with reports suggesting an appeal may be submitted within the official three-day window. The LFF believes the verdict doesn’t fully reflect the broader context, with its appeal expected to be handled discreetly. Some LFF officials defended their treatment of the Nigerian team, claiming the reported hour-long airport wait mirrored challenges they encountered in Nigeria.

Though Libya’s appeal details remain officially unconfirmed, the federation’s determination to reverse its current standings in Group D suggests their appeal will carry weight. At this point, however, Nigeria’s path to Morocco looks increasingly certain, while Libya faces a much steeper climb.

Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya

Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya. 

This decision follows a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.