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Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been awarded three goals and three points, while the Libyan Football Federation faces a $50,000 fine, following a decision from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the disrupted 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifier originally set for October 15 in Benina, Libya.
This ruling comes after a thorough investigation by CAF’s disciplinary committee, spurred by a complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation. The Super Eagles endured a grueling 20-hour ordeal between October 13 and October 14, as they traveled to Libya. Their flight, initially bound for Benghazi, was redirected to Labraq Airport, about 300 kilometers from the match venue. Once at Labraq, the team was held in the airport for 18 hours without access to food or water, with unsanitary facilities awaiting them. Exhausted and unfit to compete, the Nigerian team returned home the next day.
CAF’s Disciplinary Committee, led by Chairman Ousmane Kane, found Libya’s defense inadequate and cited the Libyan Football Federation for violations of Article 31 of the AFCON regulations, along with Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. Consequently, the scheduled match was forfeited in Nigeria’s favor, with Libya losing 3-0 by default. The Libyan Federation must also pay the fine within 60 days.
With this decision, Nigeria now stands on the cusp of securing a spot in the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, having accumulated 10 points from four games, leaving them four points ahead of Benin Republic. Rwanda trails with five points, while Libya remains at the bottom of the group with one point, thus out of contention.
Nigeria will qualify for the finals with either a win or a draw against Benin Republic in their upcoming match in Abidjan on November 14.
Despite CAF’s ruling, Libya has filed an appeal, enlisting Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to contest the decision, according to reports from Libyan news source alwasat.ly.