The Confederation of African Football, CAF has officially awarded Nigeria three points and three goals following the botched 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifier between Libya and Nigeria, originally scheduled for October 15, 2024.
The Nigerian delegation refused to play the match after their flight to Benghazi was unexpectedly diverted to Al-Abraq International Airport without prior notice.
The team was then stranded at the airport for over 18 hours, with no access to food, water, internet, or accommodation.
In a statement released by CAF on Sunday, October 26, 2024, the organization detailed the decision rendered by its Disciplinary Board during a meeting on October 23.
The board found the Libyan Football Federation guilty of violating Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations, as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
As a result, CAF ruled that Libya would forfeit the match, awarding Nigeria a 3-0 victory.
The board also imposed a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation, with a directive to pay the amount within 60 days.
All other appeals and motions filed in connection with the incident were dismissed by the Disciplinary Board.
This ruling comes as a relief for Nigeria, whose players and officials endured significant hardship during their disrupted journey to Libya.
The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF promptly reported the incident to CAF, triggering an investigation that has now resulted in this landmark decision.
Impact on Group D Standings
With the awarded three points, Nigeria now tops Group D with 10 points from four games. Benin trails in second place with six points, Rwanda with five points while Libya languishes at the bottom with just one point.
The Super Eagles need only one more point from their remaining games to seal qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
They will have the opportunity to achieve this in their next fixture against Benin, scheduled for November.
This outcome not only strengthens Nigeria’s position but also sends a strong message about the importance of fair play and proper arrangements in international football
