The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to deliver its decision today regarding the controversial and interrupted AFCON Group D qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria. This match, originally scheduled for October 15 at Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benina, was surrounded by a series of irregularities that have led many to call for significant sanctions on Libya. The football world is keenly awaiting CAF’s ruling, especially after Nigeria lodged an official complaint, accusing Libya of misconduct.
Initially, the match was supposed to be played at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi. However, just before the scheduled time, it was moved to a smaller venue, the Benina Martyrs Stadium, which is about 10 kilometers away from Benghazi. This last-minute change followed Libya’s 1-0 defeat to the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The sudden venue change raised concerns, but what happened next created even greater controversy.
The Nigerian national team, en route to Libya for the return leg, experienced a nightmarish ordeal. The Libyan authorities unexpectedly diverted the team’s flight, forcing the pilot to land at Al-Abraq Airport, far from the intended destination. Upon arrival, the Nigerian team was essentially held captive, without access to food or water for nearly 18 hours. This extreme situation left the players fatigued, weak, and unfit to compete. After enduring these conditions, they returned to Nigeria the following Monday, malnourished and exhausted.
Following this incident, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) filed a formal complaint with CAF, which resulted in the match being postponed. The case was subsequently referred to CAF’s Disciplinary Committee, with sanctions against Libya being one of the major expectations from the Nigerian camp. CAF’s Executive Committee convened on Tuesday in Ethiopia to hear both sides of the dispute. Libya’s football officials, led by the President of the Libya Football Association, Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, presented their side of the story, acknowledging the logistical challenges they faced in Nigeria but not taking responsibility for the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian team.
Al-Shalmani argued that despite the difficulties, the Libyan team had graciously hosted several African teams, including those from Sudan and Ghana, at the same venue without issues. He portrayed Libya as a hospitable country, using these past events to defend the actions of his association. However, this defense failed to address the core issue—the deliberate and harmful actions taken against Nigeria’s national team.
On the other hand, Amaju Pinnick, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation and current member of both CAF’s Executive Committee and FIFA, led the Nigerian delegation in presenting their case. Pinnick, supported by other CAF members such as Senegalese Augustin Senghor, Cameroonian Seidou Mbombo Njoya, and Sierra Leonean Isha Johansen, made a series of accusations against Libya, detailing the mistreatment and violation of aviation rules. They demanded that strong sanctions be placed on Libya for their actions.
The Nigerian side insists that the Libyan authorities’ decision to divert the flight and keep the Super Eagles in such harsh conditions amounted to a gross violation of basic human rights. Many Nigerian football stakeholders echoed these sentiments, calling for serious repercussions. Former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League and 2nd Vice President of the NFF, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, stated that the diversion of the Nigerian team’s flight breached aviation regulations. He argued that Libya’s actions seemed retaliatory, particularly since they never formally complained to CAF about their treatment during the first leg in Nigeria.
Baribote emphasized that football has strict rules against retaliation, comparing Libya’s behavior to a red-card offense. He called for CAF to impose heavy sanctions on Libya, accusing them of subjecting the Nigerian players to conditions that amounted to slavery and violated the African Charter. His stance was widely supported by others in the football community.
David Doherty, a UK-based football administrator and former NFF presidential candidate, expressed his belief that CAF should not only fine Libya but also ban them from hosting future matches within their borders. According to Doherty, this would serve as a clear message that such mistreatment of teams would not be tolerated in African football. While he acknowledged that CAF might face political pressure from Arab influences, he urged the football body to remain impartial and focus on justice.
Numerous fans and football enthusiasts shared their views on social media, expressing anger and frustration over the situation. Many agreed that Libya deserved to face sanctions, and some even suggested that the match points should be awarded to Nigeria without rescheduling. One respondent, Kazeem Anjorin, emphasized that CAF must take strong action to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. He stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their unprofessional and unfriendly behavior toward the Nigerian team.
Others, like Philip Garba, voiced their frustration more bluntly, questioning Libya’s place in African football. Some fans expressed a desire never to see Nigeria face Libya again in a competitive setting, while others speculated that CAF might choose to reschedule the match in a neutral country, such as Tunisia or Egypt, if Libya were sanctioned heavily.
As the football world awaits CAF’s final verdict, the pressure is on the organization to ensure that justice is served. The Nigerian team, having been subjected to inhumane treatment, deserves a fair ruling that includes appropriate sanctions for Libya. Anything less could set a dangerous precedent for the future of African football, where teams may feel justified in engaging in unethical behavior. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications, not just for Nigeria and Libya, but for the entire African football community.