The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee has awarded the cancelled Libya versus Nigeria Group D 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match to the Super Eagles.
Also, Libyan Football Federation (LFF) was fined $50,000 for breaching “the Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.”
The decision was reached by the disciplinary board in their meeting which took place October 23, 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.
The board comprises Ousmane Kane of Senegal as Chairman, Njeri Onyango (vice chairperson, Kenya), Felix Golbassia (Tchad), Patrick Shale (Lesotho) and Norman Arendse (South Africa).
In a notification letter to the LFF, dated October 26, 2024, tagged: “Notification of the terms of the Decision DC23175 – QAFCON – 23.10.2024 of the CAF Disciplinary Board,” the body said: “(1) 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;(2)The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on October 15, 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0);(3) The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000; (4) The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision: (5) All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The matchday 4 AFCON 2025 second leg qualifier billed for Benghazi on October 15 was called off by CAF when Nigeria decided to boycott the fixture due to inhumane treatment by the Libyan authorities, who detained the Super Eagles and officials for over 16 hours without food, water and access to communications.
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The Libyans had earlier diverted the Nigerian team’s flight from the earlier scheduled Benghazi to Al Abraq Airport, which, according to the Nigerian team’s Tunisian pilot, lacked the required navigation facilities for such flights.
The CAF Disciplinary Board met on October 23 to investigation both countries’ claims and found Libya guilty.
With the verdict by the disciplinary board, the Eagles are now on 10 points while Libya are bottom with just one point.
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COMMENTS
This is a very good lesson to the terrorists! Kudos to CAF for standing on their ground in passing a fair judgement on this issue, despite the threats from those animals (Libya).
Yes o!!!
Deserving!
Commendable decision by CAF!
It means Nigeria has qualified.
A poorly scripted revenge plot backfired big time! They’ve been getting away with these nonsense tactics, especially in CAF club competitions against West African teams, pointing laser touches at our players’ eyes, changing match venues at the 11th hour, switching off training pitch lights, abandoning visiting clubs at grade c airports, etc. Algerians are the worst sef.
But will Libya not boycott their remaining 2 matches against Benin and Rwanda in protest (although that could attract further fines)?
Justice well served.
Well deserved justice this will serve as a lesson to other Africa football nation.
Good job CAF. I was expecting $100,000 fine to Libya. These Arabs have no respect for black Africans.
ARTICLE 31
Page – 20
RECEPTION REQUIREMENTS
The following minimum requirements for reception should be strictly respected:
31.1. Reception at the airport: A Committee formed of the officials of the host associa-
tion must be at the airport to meet the visiting delegation and must provide all facilities
for the entry formalities in the country. One official of the host association, who speaks
the language of the visiting delegation, will be at the disposal of the visiting delegation
and will act as liaison officer between the two associations.
31.2. Transport Facilities: One bus for the players and one car for the officials will be
put at the disposal of the visiting delegation from the time of their arrival to that of
their departure. Any additional vehicles are subject to an agreement between the two
associations.
31.3. Accommodation: the visiting association is responsible for organizing, securing
and covering financially the accommodation of its team.
31.4 The host federation is obliged to assist the visiting team for the reservation of
the rooms
31.5. Security measures: The police service of the host association must ensure the
security of all the visiting delegation’s members as well as the referees and the com-
missioner designated to officiate the match. The police service must prohibit any
invasion of the field and any attack against the players or the officials, inside and
outside the stadium.
31.6. Seeing the visiting team off: Officials of the host association shall see the visiting
delegation off at the airport and shall facilitate all formalities for departure
CAF couldn’t have done less with audio and video footages of the ill-treatment meted out on the Super Eagles.
The CAF Constitution spells it clearly and it must be adhered to.
NFF too should be given kudos for standing its ground in the matter.
Yeah
NFF tried but captain Ekong a.k.a captain fantastic who stood his ground with his team to boycott the game also deserve commendation.
We need such a captain who does not fear anything.
Na who come wise pass?
The $50k fine dey too lean. They should have hit them harder. By diverting that plane, these people put the lives of our team in jeopardy! The fine should have been much heavier. Something like $1million is not too much, to serve as a lesson and a deterrent to other nations that employ such under handed tactics.
If they don’t have the whole $1million to pay, let a monthly payment schedule be drawn up for them. By the time dem pay taya, dia eye go clear.
Additionally, Libya should have been banned for some years from hosting games. Let them play their home games on neutral ground.
Good one from CAF.
I hope they extend this same iron hand to club competions.
The dark arts of psychologically and mentally wearing out visiting teams is old fashioned and shouldn’t be perpetuated or condoned in 2024.
The rest of the world is moving forward. Africa cannot continue to remain in the monolithic age.
As of consequence, unless CAS rules otherwise on appeal, our remaining 2 games are mere formalities now.