The Libya Football Federation is to pay the $50,000 fine within 60 days of notification of the decision.
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – For.showing a lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment to the Nigerian Super Eagles team, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Libya $50,000 within 60 days.
It also awarded three points, and three goals to Nigeria for the missed Libya game.
The Super Eagles players and officials were stranded for hours at a Libyan airport where they landed for a 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.
They were denied access to food and the internet for hours before the captain of the Nigerian team raised the alarm on social media. Following diplomatic intervention and social media backlash, the team was cleared to return home.
Sequel to the incident, a probe was sanctioned by the CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, to ascertain the cause of the incident.
A statement issued by CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, Ousmane Kane, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, said the decision to award Nigeria was reached after the disciplinary committee found Libya guilty of inhumane treatment to the Super Eagles.
The 5-man disciplinary committee comprised Mr. Ousmane Kane (Senegal) Chairperson, Ms. Njeri Onyango (Kenya) Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Felix Golbassia (Chad) Member, Mr. Patrick Shale (Lesotho) Member, and Mr. Norman Arendse (South Africa) Member.
The committee reported 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 Libya Football Federation is to pay the $50,000 fine within 60 days of notification of the decision.