The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce its ruling on Wednesday regarding the controversial AFCON qualifying Group D fixture between Libya and Nigeria, which was scheduled for October 15 at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya. The match, ultimately canceled, has stirred tensions between both nations.
Libyan outlet Al-Ahrar Channel reported that CAF’s decision will address the chaotic events surrounding the second-leg match. The first leg, held in Nigeria, saw the Super Eagles win 1-0, but the return fixture in Libya was called off at the last minute.
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has since submitted all necessary documents to CAF, with a specialized lawyer handling their case. CAF had removed the fixture from its calendar after the cancellation and referred the matter to its Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.
The LFF criticized Nigeria for refusing to play the match, insisting that all legal actions would be pursued to protect Libya’s interests. Nigeria, however, lodged a complaint with CAF after its players and staff were held for 17 hours at Al Abraq International Airport, far from the match venue, causing significant distress before the team was forced to return home.
CAF labeled the incident as “extremely dangerous” and is investigating violations of regulations by both parties. The ruling on Wednesday will determine the outcome of this unresolved AFCON qualifier.
