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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has made a decision, ruling in favor of Nigeria in their protest against Libya regarding the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier.
Libya was found guilty of violating critical AFCON and CAF Disciplinary Code regulations, resulting in a forfeit that awards Nigeria a 3-0 victory .
The controversy began when the match, scheduled for October 15, 2024, in Benghazi, Libya, was canceled due to regulatory breaches by the Libya Football Federation (LFF) .
The CAF disciplinary board, led by Ousmane Kane of Senegal, cited Libya for violating Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code
As a result, Libya faces severe penalties, including a $50,000 fine payable within 60 days. The decision is final, and Libya cannot appeal.
This ruling significantly impacts Libya’s chances of advancing in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, while Nigeria benefits from the 3-0 score, strengthening its position .
Recalling the team’s ordeal, the Super Eagles encountered significant delays in Libya, as reported by Black Box Nigeria. They endured over 13 hours of stranded time due to disruptions by the host country’s government. Subsequently, with approval from the Nigerian Football Federation, the team decided to withdraw from their upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
As of the latest update, the AFCON 2025 Qualifier Group D standings are as follows: Nigeria leads with 7 points, followed closely by Benin with 6 points, Rwanda with 5 points, and Libya trailing with 1 point.
