The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory over Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after Nigerian players and officials were stranded in a remote Libyan airport for over 16 hours, leading them to abandon the scheduled October 15 match in Benghazi. This win, combined with three vital points, puts Nigeria at the top of Group D with 10 points and within reach of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. Libya, with just one point from four games, remains at the bottom of the group, while Benin and Rwanda are in contention for the second qualifying spot.
The Nigerian team cited mistreatment as the reason for refusing to play, having been diverted mid-flight to Bayda, 250 km from Benghazi. Once in Bayda, they were locked in the airport without food, water, or contact from Libyan officials. In response, CAF ruled that Libya violated competition rules that require host associations to provide proper reception, including support with entry formalities and transportation.
Libya’s football federation, however, claimed the incident was unintentional and highlighted that they had faced similar travel difficulties before their first leg against Nigeria in Uyo, where they lost 1-0. This situation drew widespread criticism for escalating gamesmanship, underscoring persistent issues with the treatment of visiting teams in African competitions. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has since pledged to enhance regulations to prevent such instances, which remain common in African football, where visiting teams often encounter logistical obstacles and substandard facilities.
