Nigeria has been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya in their recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after the Nigerian team refused to play due to delays and mistreatment upon arrival in Libya. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee granted Nigeria the win on Saturday, adding three points to their total and positioning them at the top of Group D, bringing them closer to securing a spot in next year’s tournament.
The match, initially scheduled for October 15 in Benghazi, did not proceed after Nigerian players and staff were kept in a locked airport for more than 16 hours in Bayda, over 240 kilometers from their intended destination. The Nigerian team cited a lack of food, water, and official communication, ultimately deciding to return home without playing.
The CAF committee determined that Libya had breached competition rules, which require the host team to ensure safe and adequate arrangements for visiting sides, including entry assistance and transportation. As a result, Libya has been fined $50,000, with the committee finding that the Libyan team’s treatment of Nigeria went beyond acceptable conduct.
Libya’s Football Federation has denied any intentional wrongdoing, noting that its own players had faced travel delays upon arrival in Nigeria for the October 11 match, which Nigeria won 1-0. However, many have criticized Libya’s conduct ahead of the return fixture as unsportsmanlike, raising concerns about the ongoing challenges African teams face during international competitions.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe addressed the situation, pledging to strengthen regulations to ensure visiting teams are treated fairly and to prevent similar incidents. African football has frequently faced challenges related to inadequate facilities, delayed processing times at airports, and extended travel routes, issues that CAF aims to tackle to improve conditions for teams across the continent.
With this decision, Nigeria now leads Group D with 10 points, four ahead of Benin and five ahead of Rwanda. Libya remains at the bottom of the table with one point from four games. The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco.
Key Points:
Victory Awarded to Nigeria: CAF has granted Nigeria a 3-0 win over Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after Nigeria refused to play due to alleged mistreatment at a Libyan airport.
Qualification Boost: The awarded points put Nigeria at the top of Group D with 10 points, moving them closer to qualifying for the 2025 finals in Morocco.
Travel Dispute: Nigerian players and officials were reportedly kept without food, water, or contact at an airport over 240 km from the match location, leading them to return home.
Libya Penalized: CAF found Libya in breach of hosting regulations, fining them $50,000 for failing to meet competition standards for visiting teams.
Broader Issue Highlighted: The incident underscores common travel and treatment difficulties faced by visiting African teams; CAF President Patrice Motsepe has pledged stricter measures to improve conditions across competitions.
