The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce its decision on the contentious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria, originally scheduled for October 15. According to Libya’s Al-Ahrar Channel, CAF’s ruling is anticipated by Thursday or Friday.
In a prior hearing, CAF heard from representatives of both Libya and Nigeria via Zoom, seeking clarification on the rerouting of the Nigerian team’s flight from Benina Airport to Labraq Airport. The Libyan Football Federation cited technical air navigation issues, presented by Secretary General Nasser Al-Suwaie, Assistant Secretary General Mohamed Qrimida, and a Tunisian lawyer. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Federation called on the Tunisian captain of the chartered flight as a witness to recount the incident.
Al-Ahrar Channel reports that Libya may appeal any unfavorable ruling from CAF, intensifying the tension around the match. The controversy centers on the treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who were left stranded for hours under challenging conditions at the Libyan airport. CAF has condemned the “unacceptable experiences” faced by the Nigerian team during their arrival.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has detailed the ordeal, stating that the team’s chartered ValueJet aircraft, carrying 22 players and officials—including NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and Edo State’s Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu—was unexpectedly diverted to Al-Abraq International Airport, despite possessing the required landing documents. The NFF disputed Libya’s account of the delay, attributing it to fabricated reports about an incident in Nigeria.
NFF President Gusau criticized Libya’s actions, calling them “despicable” and advocating for sanctions against the Libyan authorities. “Football should bring nations together, fostering unity and friendship beyond cultural, religious, and political divides. What we experienced was nothing short of disappointing,” Gusau stated.
The incident could significantly affect the AFCON standings. Nigeria currently tops the group with seven points from three matches, while Benin follows with six points from four games, Rwanda has five from four games, and Libya remains at the bottom with one point from three games. Only the top two teams from each group will qualify for the 24-team AFCON finals in Morocco next year.
The football world now awaits CAF’s decision, hoping for a fair and transparent resolution that honors the integrity of the sport.
