The Libyan Football Federation has appealed a decision by the Confederation of African Football that awarded Nigeria three points and three goals following the disrupted Africa Cup of Nations qualifier originally set for October 15 in Benina, Libya.
The ruling, which fined Libya $50,000 for failing to meet CAF requirements, came after the Nigerian Football Federation reported that the Super Eagles endured serious travel and accommodation issues, including a 20-hour journey, an unplanned stop at Labraq Airport, and a lack of basic amenities like food and water. These issues led to Nigeria abandoning the match and returning home.
In response to the decision, Libya hired Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to challenge the ruling, describing it as “unfair.” According to Libyan outlet Alwasat.ly, Abbas will represent Libya’s case in court, arguing against the penalties imposed by CAF’s disciplinary committee.
CAF’s disciplinary team, led by Ousmane Kane, supported Nigeria’s complaint, pointing to breaches of Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. The verdict saw Libya forfeiting the match, resulting in a 3-0 victory awarded to Nigeria.
This decision boosts Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, while Libya’s qualification hopes are weakened, as they remain with just one point in Group D.
The Nigerian Football Federation, now arranging for the Super Eagles’ return from Libya, has confirmed they will not participate in any rescheduled match pending the appeal’s outcome.
