In a significant turn of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria three points and three goals for their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, which did not go as planned. This decision comes in the wake of a detailed investigation into Nigeria’s experience before the match.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe recently spoke out, emphasizing that CAF would not tolerate any instances of unsportsmanlike conduct or unfair treatment within African football. Following the investigation, CAF’s Disciplinary Board, led by Chairperson Ousmane Kane, found Libya guilty of mistreating the Nigerian national team, leading to the forfeiture decision in Nigeria’s favor.
The disciplinary committee, comprising five members from across Africa, determined that Libya’s actions violated CAF’s regulations. According to a CAF statement, Libya breached Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. As a result, the Libya vs. Nigeria match, originally scheduled for October 15, 2024, in Benghazi, has been ruled a 3-0 forfeit victory in Nigeria’s favor.
The ruling also imposes a fine of USD 50,000 on the Libyan Football Federation, with a 60-day deadline to settle the amount. This verdict comes after Nigeria’s team reportedly endured hours stranded at a Libyan airport without access to basic amenities, such as food and internet. Their eventual release was achieved only after diplomatic efforts and social media support.
With this decision, Nigeria now leads their qualification group with 10 points from four matches, putting them four points ahead of Benin Republic. Libya, with only one point, is effectively out of contention. Nigeria will secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament with a win or draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan on November 14.
As Nigeria inches closer to qualifying, this decision shows CAF’s commitment to maintaining fairness and sportsmanship across African football.
