The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) plans to legally contest sanctions imposed following the cancellation of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.
The match, originally scheduled for October 15, was called off when Nigeria’s Super Eagles boycotted the game after their flight was diverted, leaving the team stranded overnight at an airport.
Tensions between the two nations escalated in the lead-up to the match. Following the cancellation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and fined the LFF $50,000 (£38,500).
LFF acting president Abdunnaser Ahmed expressed his concerns, stating, “Match points cannot be awarded in this way. This is a precedent that African football has never witnessed before. Whoever refrains from playing before any match is canceled should be considered a loser.”
The decision jeopardizes Libya’s hopes for qualification, as they now need to win their remaining two matches in Group D while relying on Benin and Rwanda to not earn any points.
Ahmed confirmed that the LFF intends to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if necessary, saying, “We believe our cause is just. We will not give up our right.”
In contrast, Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong described the CAF decision as “justice,” noting that their flight was diverted despite the pilot informing authorities they were low on fuel.
The Super Eagles were redirected to Al Abraq, about 230 km (143 miles) from Benghazi. Upon their arrival on October 13, they reported no LFF representatives were present, and players were left without food, Wi-Fi, or accommodations, prompting their return to Nigeria the day before the match.
Libya also raised concerns about treatment during a previous match in Nigeria on October 11, which Nigeria won 1-0. CAF intervened and subsequently canceled the North African match after an investigation revealed Libya had breached multiple regulations regarding match conduct and security for visiting teams.
Ahmed criticized CAF for not accurately assessing the situation, asserting that the flight diversion was due to “technical and logistical reasons related to air navigation.”
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar described the circumstances as “most unfortunate,” highlighting the complexities arising from Libya’s divided political landscape and the lack of diplomatic representation for one of Libya’s administrations in Nigeria.
As a result of the sanctions, Nigeria is now just one victory away from qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
