The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded three points, and three goals to Nigeria for the missed Libya game.
The development comes after the CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, said a thorough probe was ongoing following the recent controversy surrounding Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Motsepe had maintained that the continental body would not tolerate any lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment in African football.
However, in the latest development on Saturday, a statement 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 look into the matter between the Libya and Nigerian senior football men’s team, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Super Eagles.
The full statement reads: “The CAF Disciplinary Board met to deliberate on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier that was scheduled between Libya and Nigeria.
“The Disciplinary Board decided as follows:
1. Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Article 31 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
2. The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies 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).
3. The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
4. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The show of shame started when the Libyan authorities deliberately diverted the flight of the players and officials of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, from Benghazi to Al Abraq Airport on Sunday October 13.
Al Abraq Airport is over 200 km and three and a half hours drive away from the original destination.
They were then held hostage by the Libyan authorities upon their arrival for 2025 AFCON qualifying Group D clash with the Mediterranean Knights scheduled for Tuesday October 15.
They were then deliberately left stranded for over 20 hours without food or water and completely shut out of internet services.