After the dramatic and ugly incident that occurred recently to the Super Eagles of Nigeria while in Libya for their AFCON 2025 qualifier, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued its official verdict.
The Nigerian team were left stranded for more than 12 hours at an abandoned airport just days before their anticipated clash with the North African national team, Footballrover reports.
However, African football body’s ruling on the incident has finally arrived and its a huge blow to the host country.
The governing body announced that the home side Football Federation had been found guilty of violating key regulations surrounding the safety and treatment of foreign teams.
The Nigerians, on their way to Benghazi for the match, experienced an unexpected diversion, only to be left waiting in isolation after Libyan authorities suddenly revoked their landing clearance.
With no basic amenities or clear communication provided, the Nigerian side endured a grueling wait under distressing conditions.
Governing body’s initial response condemned the ordeal, calling it “intolerable” and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring player safety across all its competitions.
The governing body immediately engaged both opposing side and Nigerian authorities and referred the incident to its Disciplinary Board for a detailed investigation.
CAF disciplinary board’s verdict on Libya vs Nigeria
Following a thorough review, the Disciplinary Board has taken strong action:
1. The LFF was found in violation of Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the Disciplinary Code.
2. The board ruled the October 15, 2024 match as a forfeit, awarding Nigeria a 3-0 victory by default.
3. Additionally, the hosts Federation faces a fine of USD 50,000, payable within 60 days.
The decision reaffirms the football governing body’s intolerance for actions that compromise team safety, emphasising that any breach of these standards will carry serious consequences.
As the Libyan team faces the repercussions, the Green and white Boys can now look forward to their next qualifier without the logistical challenges that overshadowed this fixture.
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