The Libyan Football Federation recently lodged an appeal against the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling that awarded three points and three goals to Nigeria following a disrupted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match that was originally scheduled for October 15 in Benina, Libya.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee’s decision, in addition to penalizing Libya with a $50,000 fine, stemmed from multiple violations concerning the management of the Nigerian team’s arrival and the conditions they encountered.
This ruling places Nigeria on the brink of qualification for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, needing only one more favorable result from two remaining matches. Currently, Nigeria leads the group with 10 points from four matches, positioning itself ahead of Benin Republic, which holds six points, and Rwanda, with five. Libya, with only one point, is effectively eliminated from contention for one of the group’s two qualifying spots for the tournament.
The Libyan Federation’s appeal, which is being handled by Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas, was reported by Libyan media outlet alwasat.ly. According to reports, Libya’s Federation is arguing that the CAF ruling is “unfair.” The Federation contends that the disciplinary decision not only unfairly penalizes Libya but also distorts the integrity of the competition by depriving them of a competitive match outcome.
The controversy began with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) filing a formal complaint to CAF after the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national team, reportedly endured a grueling 20-hour ordeal.
This included a diverted flight, a prolonged delay at Labraq Airport, which is located approximately 300 kilometers from Benghazi, their intended destination, and inadequate facilities including insufficient food and water.
The Nigerian delegation ultimately opted to return home after the extended wait and disruptions, deciding they were unable to proceed with the match under the prevailing conditions.
Following the investigation, CAF’s disciplinary committee, led by Ousmane Kane, ruled in favor of Nigeria.
The ruling cited breaches of Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, concluding that Libya failed to fulfill its obligations as the host country. As a result, Libya was deemed to have forfeited the match, with a 3-0 score awarded to Nigeria.
CAF’s decision has significant implications for both Nigeria and Libya.
For Nigeria, the awarded points and goals substantially improve their chances of advancing to the 2025 AFCON finals. With 10 points, Nigeria now sits comfortably atop Group D, increasing the likelihood that they will secure one of the two qualifying spots for the tournament in Morocco.
Libya, however, now faces the daunting reality of being effectively eliminated from contention with only a single point, despite still having two matches to play.
As the appeal process unfolds, the Libyan Football Federation will seek to overturn the ruling, asserting that the conditions which led to the abandonment of the match were beyond their control and that the penalty imposed by CAF was disproportionately severe.
With Tunisian legal expert Ali Abbas leading the appeal, Libya will argue that the forfeiture not only undermines their competitiveness but also sets a troubling precedent for hosting obligations in African football.
Should CAF reject Libya’s appeal and uphold its initial ruling, Nigeria’s path to AFCON 2025 would be almost assured, while Libya’s campaign for qualification would officially come to an end.
The outcome of the appeal will likely set a precedent for how CAF handles similar disputes in the future, underscoring the importance of compliance with hosting standards and the rights of visiting teams within the African football governing body’s regulations.
