The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Disciplinary Board has ruled in favour of Nigeria, declaring a 3-0 victory over Libya in Match No. 87 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
According to Persecondnews, the CAF decision follows Nigeria’s team’s harrowing experience in Libya, where players and officials found themselves stranded for over 20 hours prior to the second leg match.
The Libya Football Federation was found guilty of breaching Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
Consequently, the federation has been fined $50,000, payable within 60 days of notification.
The disciplinary panel, chaired by Mr. Ousmane Kane of Senegal and Vice-Chair Ms. Njeri Onyango of Kenya, emphasized CAF’s commitment to fair play and integrity within the competition.
This ruling reinforces Nigeria’s position as group leader, extending their lead at the top of Group D to 10 points from four games.
Nigeria’s team had previously expressed concerns about the hostile conditions they faced in Libya.
The unsportsmanlike behaviour of the North African side towards their West African counterpart sparked global condemnation after the Super Eagles were stuck at the Al Abraq Airport in Libya, 12 hours after landing, ahead of their 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya.
In a shocking turn of events, the chartered ValueJet aircraft was diverted to the small airport, typically used for Hajj operations, while approaching Benghazi Airport.
The delegation, which included weary players and officials, arrived at their hotel in Benghazi three hours away without any reception or transportation.
Initially, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had arranged separate vehicles for the team, but the sudden diversion derailed these plans.
The situation escalated, with players refusing to participate in the match.
Nigeria’s senior national team captain, William Troost-Ekong, has stated that the Super Eagles will boycott the second leg of the Libyan games due to inhumane treatment from the Libyan authorities.
Peesecondnews recalls that the team’s original landing plan in Benghazi was diverted without explanation, leaving players and officials without basic amenities.
Ekong took to X on Monday to condemn the treatment, describing it as “disgraceful behaviour” and “mind games” by Libyan authorities.
He highlighted the lack of phone connection, food, and drink, and the locking of airport gates.
The Super Eagles captain, distraught by the dark antics of Libya, disclosed in a post on his official X handle that the team has decided not to play the scheduled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, citing concerns over safety and dignity.
Ekong also called on the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue the team.
Ekong’s tweets emphasized the unacceptable nature of the Libyan authorities’ actions, stating, “We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen, but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football.”
Ekong said: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games.
“I’ve experienced issues before while playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behaviour.”
“Even the Tunisian pilot, who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land, had never seen anything like this before.
“We will NOT play this game,” he declared, urging the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue the stranded team.
The CAF Disciplinary Board’s decision underscores the importance of maintaining fair play and respect among competing teams.
The development may impact the standings of Group D, with Nigeria solidifying their position as a strong contender for the 2025 AFCON.
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