Nigeria will not play the second leg 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya due to the Libyan Football Federation’s failure to grant the Super Eagles access to the country.
The Super Eagles, originally scheduled to fly into Benghazi on Sunday for the match, were diverted to Al Abraq Airport, a few hours away from their intended landing destination.
In contrast, both Ghana and Sudan, who were also due to play their AFCON return legs in Benghazi, arrived without any difficulties, raising suspicions of possible misconduct by the Libyan authorities.
The Nigerian team spent the night at the airport, unable to leave, with no clear explanation provided.
After 15 hours of waiting, the Nigerian delegation decided to return to Nigeria, with some players expressing concerns over safety and security.
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, sanctioned the team's return, awaiting a decision from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the fate of the game.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF read: “We view the disturbing and unacceptable experiences of the Nigeria National Football Team (Super Eagles) at an airport in Libya in a very serious light.
“CAF has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it was informed that the Super Eagles and their technical team were stranded in distressing conditions for several hours at an airport, allegedly directed by the Libyan authorities.
“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation, and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations,” the statement added.
As the case is reviewed by the CAF Disciplinary Board, here are four possible outcomes.
Points/goals awarded to Libya
The board might review submissions from both Nigeria and Libya (assuming both are filed) and decide to award three points and three goals to Libya.
This could be based on Nigeria’s presence in the country but refusal to be transported to the match venue, which the host nation is required to facilitate unless rejected by the visiting team.
Libya could argue that transport was provided, even if deemed insufficient for the Nigerian delegation.
Forfeiture by Libya, Super Eagles profit
Alternatively, CAF could penalise Libya for the mistreatment of the Nigerian team, awarding three points and three goals to the Super Eagles.
Nigeria might argue that CAF does not tolerate the poor treatment of visiting teams and that they adhered to the itinerary, being diverted to a different city upon approach to the agreed destination.
The Nigerian Football Federation could also present visuals of players in distressing conditions, citing concerns for the mental well-being of the players.
Reschedule the game
The most likely outcome is that CAF will reschedule the game and instruct Libya to provide an appropriate venue.
CAF is generally not inclined to award boardroom points and could seek to appease both sides.
However, finding a suitable window for the rescheduled fixture might present a challenge.
Neutral venue replay
CAF could decide the match should be replayed at a neutral venue, provided by the football body.
This would serve as a form of punishment for both teams: Libya would lose the advantage of home support, while Nigeria would not receive boardroom points and would have to travel again.
Whatever decision CAF makes, it will set a precedent for handling similar incidents in future qualifying competitions.
