The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has formally appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the penalties imposed after the cancellation of their 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.
The Super Eagles faced numerous challenges during their trip to Libya for the return leg of the match, which took place on October 15 in Benghazi. Their journey included a redirected flight, over 18 hours of delays, and various logistical issues. These complications led to CAF’s decision to cancel the match, awarding a 3-0 victory and three points to Nigeria, while imposing a $50,000 fine on the Libyan federation.
In a statement released on Saturday, CAF’s Disciplinary Board, chaired by Ousmane Kane, detailed the ruling: “The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.” The decision placed Libya at the bottom of Group D in the AFCON qualifiers.
Discontented with the ruling, the LFF has sought the expertise of Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to contest the decision, labeling it as unjust. The appeal could significantly affect the qualification landscape, especially for Nigeria, which requires just one more point to secure their spot in the upcoming tournament in Morocco.
As the situation unfolds, the implications of this appeal will be closely watched by teams and fans alike in the lead-up to the AFCON competition.
