The Libya Football Federation (LFF) is reportedly planning an appeal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in response to severe sanctions over a disrupted 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.
The ruling came after the match billed for Benghazi on October 15 was called off by CAF when Nigeria decided to boycott the fixture following inhumane treatment by the Libyan authorities, who detained the Super Eagles delegation to the game for over 16 hours without food, water or access to communications.
The Libyans had earlier diverted the Nigerian team’s flight from the earlier scheduled Benghazi to Al Abraq Airport, which, according to the Nigerian team’s Tunisian pilot, did not have the required navigation facilities for such flights.
In its sanction, CAF’s Disciplinary Board, in a decision signed by chairman Ousmane Kane, stated that Libya had violated Article 31 of the AFCON regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of CAF’s Disciplinary Code.
“The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code,” the CAF statement read.
“The match No. 87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October in Benghazi) declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
“The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
In response, the LFF expressed deep dissatisfaction with the CAF sanction, calling it unjust and unfairly placing them at the bottom of Group D in the AFCON qualifiers.
Despite the fact that CAF rejected any further appeals from the Libyan side at the time, the LFF reportedly hired Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to lead their legal fight, according to Libyan media outlet alwasat.ly.
Another Libyan outlet, akhbarlibya24, reports that LFF Secretary General Nasser Al-Suwaie is exploring all available legal avenues, including escalating the case to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The report said the LFF described the CAF ruling as “great injustice,” noting the federation’s determination to challenge it through both legal and diplomatic channels through international sports bodies to demand a fair and transparent investigation.
It added that the Libyan Federation believes that official escalation is the best way to stop what it described as the “great injustice” that the team was subjected to.
“The Libyan Football Federation has expressed its full readiness to take all legal means to appeal the CAF decision, as Secretary General Nasser Al-Suwaie confirmed that the Libyan Federation is studying the details of the decision issued by the Disciplinary Committee, indicating the possibility of escalating the matter to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport if this ruling, which he considers unfair, is not reversed,” akhbarlibya24 report read.
“The options available to the Libyan Federation appear to be many, starting from filing legal appeals with the International Court, to resorting to the diplomatic path through international sports bodies to demand a fair and transparent investigation. The Libyan Federation believes that official escalation is the best way to stop what it described as the “great injustice” that the team was subjected to.”
