Super Eagles of Nigeria | File Image
CAF orders Libya Football Federation to pay a fine of $50,000 within 60 days
By Valentine Amanze
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) hammer has hit hard on the Libyan Football Federation by awarding Nigeria three points and three goals over the ill-treatment meted out to the Super Eagles during the Nations Cup qualifier in Benghazi, Libya.
CAF also orderd the north African country to pay a penalty of $50, 000 within 60 days of notification of the present decision for the misbehavior after the Libyan Football Federation was found guilty by a committees set up to investigate why the match was not played.
CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, Ousmane Kane, disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday October 26, 2024, after CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, had maintained that the continental body would not tolerate any lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment in African football.
Kane explained that the decision to award Nigeria the points was taken after findings by the disciplinary committee it set up to look into the matter, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Nigerian senior men’s football team.
The five-man disciplinary committee consists of; Mr. Ousmane Kane (Senegal), chairperson; Ms. Njeri Onyango (Kenya), vice-chairperson; Mr. Felix Golbassia (Tchad), member; Mr. Patrick Shale (Lesotho), member; and Mr. Norman Arendse (South Africa), member.
CAF said that the disciplinary board decided that; “The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, and that the match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).”
The Super Eagles and officials were stranded for hours at a Libyan airport and denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honour their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with the Mediterranean Knights.
Super Eagles of Nigeria abandoned at airport by Libyan officials.
Also read: AFCON: Dele-Bashiru breaks Libyan resistance, scores winner for Super Eagles
It took diplomatic efforts and social media callouts for the team to be cleared to finally leave Libya.
With the CAF decision, Nigeria is now poised to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.
The Eagles are now on 10 points from four matches, four points better than second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda have five points. Bottom-placed Libya have only one point and are out of the running for qualification.
Victory or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, 14th November (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December 2025/January 2026.
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