CAF to announce decision on controversial Libya-Nigeria 2025 AFCON qualifying match

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce its decision on Wednesday regarding the disrupted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying Group D match between Libya and Nigeria, which was initially scheduled for October 15 at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi.

The match, which was to be the second leg after Nigeria’s 1-0 win in the first leg, was called off just hours before kick-off. CAF removed the fixture from its calendar, referring the matter to its Disciplinary Committee.

Libya’s Football Federation, through its lawyer, submitted documents regarding the incident, seeking to protect its national team’s interests.

The controversy arose after Nigeria’s squad endured a traumatic experience upon arrival in Libya. Their flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, three hours from the match venue. The Nigerian team was held for 17 hours under distressing conditions before eventually returning home.

Libya’s Football Federation criticized the Nigerian side, claiming a lack of cooperation, and vowed to take legal steps to defend its team. CAF, labelling the Nigerian team’s ordeal as “extremely dangerous,” is investigating the incident to determine appropriate sanctions. Both sides await CAF’s decision on the match, which will likely have significant repercussions for the AFCON qualification campaign.