The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to make a key decision on Wednesday regarding the unresolved AFCON qualifying Group D match between Libya and Nigeria. The match, initially scheduled to take place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium on October 15, was abruptly canceled. The case has since been referred to the CAF disciplinary committee, which is set to determine the next steps for both teams.
The situation dates back to the first leg of the match held in Nigeria in early October, which saw the Super Eagles secure a 1-0 victory over Libya. According to reports from Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, CAF will now reveal its final verdict not only on the events in Nigeria but also on the canceled reverse fixture that was supposed to take place in Libya’s first all-seater stadium, with a capacity of 10,550.
The Libyan Football Federation has been proactive in this case, having submitted all relevant documents to CAF. They employed a specialized lawyer to oversee their case file, ensuring that everything was done in accordance with the disciplinary procedures laid out by CAF. The Libyan Federation has made it clear that they believe Nigeria acted unfairly, especially in refusing to participate in the second leg, which ultimately led to the match being called off.
On the day of the intended match, CAF made an official announcement just hours before kick-off, canceling the game and removing it from their calendar. The disciplinary committee was quickly tasked with reviewing the matter and deciding how to handle the complex situation. Libya has expressed frustration with Nigeria’s approach, specifically how the Nigerian team allegedly refused to cooperate during both legs of the tie.
In a public statement, the Libyan Football Federation strongly criticized Nigeria’s refusal to proceed with the match, stating that they would take legal actions to protect the interests of their national team. They believe that the Nigerian team’s behavior caused unnecessary disruption and put Libya at a disadvantage.
Nigeria, on the other hand, experienced significant difficulties upon arriving in Libya for the match. The Nigerian team landed on Sunday, October 14, but their flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, which is located about three hours away by road from the match venue in Benghazi. The Nigerian players were reportedly held by Libyan authorities for around 17 hours, a situation that left them physically and mentally exhausted. Due to this ordeal, the team was forced to return to Nigeria without playing the match.
In response to these events, Nigeria filed an official complaint with CAF, detailing the distressing experience they endured while in Libya. Nigerian officials pointed out that their team was subjected to harsh conditions and felt unsafe throughout their time in the country. Meanwhile, the Libyan Federation responded by claiming that the Nigerian side’s experience was minor compared to what they allegedly faced in Nigeria during the first leg.
CAF has expressed serious concerns over the treatment of the Nigerian team in Libya, describing it as “extremely dangerous.” They confirmed that they had reached out to both Libyan and Nigerian authorities to gather more information about the situation. As the case now rests with the disciplinary committee, CAF will be investigating the actions of both sides and is expected to impose penalties on any party found to have violated its regulations.
This decision will be closely watched by football fans, as it will set a precedent for how CAF handles similar cases in the future.