Aborted Libya-Nigeria AFCON qualifier: CAF slams $50,000, fine in Libya, forfeit match Nigeria 0-3

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has hammered the Libyan Football Federation, LFF, slamming a hefty $50,000 fine on the country as well as awarding the Super Eagles of Nigeria three goals and three points, for the botched second leg of their 2025 AFCON qualifier.

Nigeria and Libya were billed to play the  game in Libya on Tuesday, October 15, the Nigerian squad had to abandon the match and returned home after being put through gruelling suffering by the North African country.

The team had been left stranded at the Al Abraq Airport in Libya for 14 hours without food and water after their flight was diverted from Benghazi.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said the team’s chartered plane was deliberately diverted to Al-Abraq International Airport, despite having approval for the main airport in Tripoli, describing the action the Libyan authorities as “despicable.”

CAF deleted the match, and vowed that it would investigate and punish the guilty party.

Having concluded it’s investigation, CAF has wielded the big stick and sanctioned Libya accordingly.

The CAF Disciplinary Board held that Libya violated AFCON Regulations and the CAF Disciplinary Code —specifically Articles 31, 82, and 151- CAF and, therefore, ruled that Libya must forfeit the match and awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory, and three points.