The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its decision on the disrupted AFCON qualifying Group D match between Libya and Nigeria on Wednesday, October 23.
The match was originally scheduled for Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya on October 15.
However, Team Nigeria arrived for the match on Sunday, October 14, but their flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, approximately three hours by road from Benghazi, the match venue.
The Libyan authorities held the team for about 17 hours, leaving them traumatized before they returned to their home country.
Nigeria lodged a complaint with the governing body of the African football – CAF regarding their ordeal, while the Libyan Federation claimed that the Nigerians did not cooperate during either leg of the qualifying matches, suggesting that their experience in Nigeria was less challenging compared to what they faced.
CAF Gives Verdict
CAF described the situation faced by the Nigerian team in Libya as “extremely dangerous,” stating that it had contacted both Libyan and Nigerian authorities after reports emerged of the team’s distressing conditions at the airport.
Also Read: CAF Cancels Libya-Nigeria AFCON Qualifier
The following are the decisions CAF Disciplinary Board arrived at:
1. The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African
Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary
Code.
2. The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025
(scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit
by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
3. The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000.
4. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
5. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
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