Following the Libya-Nigeria situation in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially removed the match from its schedule.
Originally set to be played on Tuesday evening, the game was notably absent from CAF’s list of fixtures, signaling that the issue will be handled by the organization’s Disciplinary Board.
How the Incident Unfolded
The Super Eagles of Nigeria departed for Benghazi, Libya, on Sunday, ready for the AFCON qualifier.
However, their journey was disrupted when their plane was redirected to Al Abraq Airport, about 300 kilometers from their intended destination.
The diversion was due to reported technical issues. Upon landing, the team faced further complications, including a lack of reception by Libyan officials and malfunctioning passport scanners, which left them stranded at the airport overnight.
After spending 15 hours at the airport, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, along with the rest of the team, decided to abandon the match, citing fatigue, stress, and security concerns.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) then informed CAF of their decision to withdraw.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board to Decide the Outcome
CAF’s decision to remove the match from its schedule makes it clear that the issue will be resolved off the pitch.
The Disciplinary Board will review reports from both teams before reaching a decision.
Both Libya’s security coordinator for the game, Rashid Mujjbeh, and match coordinator, Amir Abdel Hassan, have submitted their reports to CAF.
The outcome now rests in the hands of the Disciplinary Board, which will determine the next steps for both nations in the AFCON qualifying campaign.
