Libyan Football Federation (LFF) is threatening to take action in court against Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the sanctions it imposed on them after their national team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Nigeria was called off. A Benghazi game between Libya and Nigeria, scheduled on 15 October, was called off after Nigeria’s Super Eagles boycotted it due to the diversion of their flight and keeping their team in an airport for hours.
Tensions had been rife between the two countries leading into the match after a string of diplomatic skirmishes. As a result, the disciplinary board at CAF decreed a 3-0 victory to Nigeria with a further fine to LFF of $50,000 (£38,500). Abdunnaser Ahmed of LFF and acting president reacted with this pronouncement saying, “It does not augur well for African football when a 3-0 result by way of award of points is decreed”.
Libya now sits in an edge position and will win only its two matches of the Group D qualification with their fate to hoping Benin and Rwanda win no point, and all will end when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had declared their dismissal over the possible appealing case, to which LFF secretary Ahmed had told: “We’re prepared for further escalating of this to CAS: we believe that our cause is just.”
A row emerged after Nigeria’s delegation was redirected to Al Abraq, 230km off Benghazi, without their administration providing any notice beforehand to their players. The players were informed that they had no food, no internet, and no accommodation and that they were being coaxed to head back home some few hours to the tie against Equatorial Guinea. In his views, whole fiasco was “justice,” as according to poor decisions, it made every affected party not feel comfortable.
On the other hand, Libya complained that they were mistreated during the last game in Nigeria which Libya lost 1-0. CAF decided to postpone the match in Libya based on allegations that LFF contravened various articles of its disciplinary code mainly about the organization of a match and the stay of visitors.
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, reacting to the unfolding situation, described the events as “most unfortunate,” ascribing complications to the political division within Libya, which has led to two competing administrations. Nigeria is now only one win away from qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco following the 3-0 walkover outcome.
