Mohammed Shosanya
The Confederation of African Football (CAF),Saturday awarded three points, and three goals to Nigeria for the missed Libya game in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Super Eagles and Libya were earlier scheduled to clash at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi on October 15, in matchday four of the AFCON qualification series.
The Nigerian national team’s flight landed at Al Abaq airport,however the players and coaches were held for over 20 hours without food and drinks.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), later announced the Super Eagles’ withdrawal from the qualifying match and compelled them to return home.
The President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, had said a thorough probe was ongoing sequel to the recent controversy surrounding Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
According to him,the continental body would not tolerate any lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment in African football.
A statement released on Saturday and signed by CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, Ousmane Kane said the decision to award Nigeria the points was taken after findings by the disciplinary committee it set up to investigate the matter, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Nigerian senior football team.
The Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football also fined the Libyan Football Federation for the Super Eagles’ predicament.
The 5-man disciplinary committee comprises Mr. Ousmane Kane (Senegal) Chairperson, Ms. Njeri Onyango (Kenya) Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Felix Golbassia (Tchad) member, Mr. Patrick Shale (Lesotho) Member, and Mr. Norman Arendse (South Africa) member.
According to the body,“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 body also ordered the Libya Football Federation to pay a fine of USD 50,000 within 60 days of notification of the current decision.
