CAF awards victory to Nigeria and fines Libya $50,000 for airport drama

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria three points and three goals after abandoning their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya. This ruling comes after an investigation into the botched match, which was scheduled for October 15 in Benghazi.

The Super Eagles had walked away from the match due to inadequate treatment by Libyan officials, who left players and staff stranded at an abandoned airport for nearly a day. The situation raised serious concerns about player welfare and organizational standards.

CAF’s Disciplinary Board concluded that the Libya Football Federation violated several regulations. Specifically, the board found breaches of Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

The ruling, which is detailed as follows, confirms the consequences for the Libya Football Federation:

1. The match No. 87 between Libya and Nigeria is declared a forfeit, with Libya losing 3-0.
2. The Libya Football Federation is fined USD 50,000, to be paid within 60 days of notification.
3. All other motions for relief have been dismissed.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasized the organization’s commitment to upholding sportsmanship and fair treatment in African football, stating that such actions will not be tolerated.

With this decision, Nigeria’s point tally now stands at 10 from four matches, bolstering their position in the qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.