CAF sanctions Libya, awards Nigeria 3-0 forfeit victory in 2025 AFCON qualifier dispute
Nigerian players and officials were left stranded for hours due to a lack of transport provision by the Libyan authorities.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has sanctioned the Libya Football Federation (LFF) following an incident involving the Nigerian Super Eagles, who were detained at Al Abraq Airport ahead of their AFCON 2025 qualifying match.
CAF found the LFF in breach of multiple regulations, leading to a forfeit loss for Libya in their match against Nigeria, originally scheduled for October 15 in Benghazi.
In its decision, rendered on October 23, the CAF Disciplinary Board, chaired by Ousmane Kane, cited violations of Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The board ruled that Libya had failed to meet its obligations regarding the security and logistics of the visiting Nigerian team, which led to the Super Eagles’ prolonged detainment and subsequent disruption.
As a result, the match was declared a 3-0 forfeit victory in favour of Nigeria. Additionally, the Libya Football Federation was fined USD 50,000, which must be paid within 60 days of notification.
This ruling brings closure to an incident that sparked outrage within the Nigerian football community and prompted calls for an investigation.
This decision secures Nigeria three points from the fixture, a significant boost in their quest for AFCON 2025 qualification, while Libya faces the consequences of failing to uphold CAF’s regulations.
With four matches played, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have accumulated 10 points, putting them four points ahead of Benin Republic in second place.
Rwanda follows with five points, while Libya, sitting at the bottom with just one point, is no longer in contention for qualification.
