The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has awarded Nigeria 3 points and 3-0 against Libya and fined the North African nation $50,000 over the circumstances that led to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the return leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles had defeated the Mediterranean Knights of Libya 1-0 in the first leg in Uyo, South South Nigeria.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Caf Disciplinary Board said Libya Football Federation (LFF) was found to have breached Article 31 of the Afcon regulations as well as Article 82 and 151 of the disciplinary code.
“The match number 87 Libya vs Nigeria to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi is declared lost and forfeit by Libya by a score of 3-0. The LFF is ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision. All other and further motions and prayers for relief are dismissed,’’ Caf said.
Nigeria and Libya had made their submissions to Caf on the imbroglio and presented necessary documents to support their claims concerning the incident that led to the withdrawal of the Super Eagles from the match.
Controversy erupted when the Nigerian team’s flight, bound for Benghazi, was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq Airport, whereas the return match was slated for a venue near Benghazi.
LFF engaged legal representation, distancing itself from the situation by claiming that the flight diversion was a decision made by Libyan state authorities, not the football federation.
Nigeria, had before it officially pulled out, lodged a complaint with the Caf, accusing the Libyan authorities of unacceptable treatment.
The Nigerian team was left stranded for 18 hours in an incident that Caf termed as “despicable.”
LFF had earlier stirred another controversy with claims that the Nigerian government had apologised to Libya for the lapses but Federal Government of Nigeria refuted the report through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, dismissed the reported apology which was published by the Libya Observer on October 15.
Mr Tuggar said the fake apology report was deliberately aimed at gaining political leverage and causing disaffection among continental football administrators and fans.
The minister said the report was a blatant misinformation and misrepresentation of the telephone correspondence between him and the Foreign Minister of Libya’s Eastern Government.
“Nigeria remains unequivocal in expressing its displeasure and disappointment with how the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials were treated in Libya. It calls on the Confederation of African Football to urgently ensure that its Disciplinary Board investigates the matter and imposes appropriate sanctions based on its statutes,” Tuggar said in a statement.
Libya was supposed to host Nigeria in the second leg qualifier in Benina near Benghazi but the match failed to be played following Nigeria’s withdrawal.
The Nigerian contingent cited poor reception by the hosts that saw them spending almost 18 hours at Al Abaq Airport with nobody from the Libyan government or from the Libya Football Federation at hand to receive them.
The Nigerian delegation also alleged that they were denied entry into the country even after they elected to process the logistics after waiting endlessly for the Libyans to do so.
