CAF hands Nigeria victory, fines Libya over Benghazi match controversy

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a 3-0 forfeit victory over Libya in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Qualifier. The decision comes after CAF's Disciplinary Board found the Libya Football Federation in breach of key regulations related to the match, which was scheduled to take place on October 15, 2024, in Benghazi.

CAF's ruling cited Libya’s violation of Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations, alongside Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. As a result, the scheduled match between the two teams was declared lost by Libya, with the game awarded to Nigeria. Additionally, CAF imposed a $50,000 (approximately Sh 6.5 million) fine on the Libya Football Federation, to be paid within 60 days.

The decision follows a series of events that unfolded when the Nigerian national team, known as the Super Eagles, arrived in Libya for the match. According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), their team faced unexpected challenges upon landing. The Super Eagles' chartered ValueJet aircraft, carrying players, officials, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and Edo State’s Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, was diverted from Benina Airport to Al-Abraq International Airport, despite having necessary landing permits.

The NFF claimed that the diversion led to hours of waiting in difficult conditions. They rejected Libya’s explanation that the diversion was due to technical air navigation issues, calling it an attempt to inconvenience the visiting team. NFF President Gusau condemned the treatment as “despicable” and urged for strict action against Libya.

During a remote hearing via Zoom, both sides presented their accounts to CAF. Libya defended the diversion, with testimonies from officials including Secretary General Nasser Al-Suwaie and Assistant Secretary General Mohamed Qrimida. They were joined by a Tunisian lawyer. The Nigerian side, however, relied on statements from the Tunisian captain of the aircraft, providing a different perspective.

In its decision, CAF called the conditions faced by the Nigerian team “disturbing and unacceptable.” The football body’s decision to penalize Libya and award the match to Nigeria was seen as a firm stance on upholding fairness and proper treatment of visiting teams. However, sources close to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel suggested that the Libyan Football Federation may appeal the ruling.

This decision could have significant implications for the standings in the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers. Nigeria now sits at the top of Group A with seven points, followed by Benin and Rwanda. Libya, trailing at the bottom with just one point, faces an uphill battle in the remaining matches.