Libya has formally appealed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision that awarded Nigeria three points and three goals in relation to the canceled 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between the two nations. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the CAF disciplinary ruling, which penalized Libya for breaching fair play standards, and is prepared to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if necessary.
CAF’s decision stemmed from an incident in which Nigeria’s Super Eagles were reportedly held for over 20 hours at a Libyan airport, leading them to return home without playing the scheduled qualifier in Benina.
Citing Libya’s failure to adhere to fair play obligations, CAF awarded Nigeria the match by default, granting them three points and three goals while also imposing a $50,000 fine on Libya.
Acting LFF President Nasser Al-Suwaie has firmly contested CAF’s decision, asserting that Libya acted within the rules and did not infringe on any fair play principles.
“Libya did not violate any rules and regulations,” he stated, emphasizing that the LFF has submitted evidence and documentation to support their defense. Al-Suwaie insists that CAF’s ruling was unjust and has called for a reassessment of the decision by the CAF Appeals Board.
In its efforts to overturn the ruling, Libya has reportedly enlisted the services of a prominent Tunisian lawyer to aid in the appeal.
The LFF remains determined to challenge the disciplinary board’s interpretation of the events, suggesting that the Super Eagles’ extended hold at the airport did not constitute a breach on Libya’s part.
The LFF argues that any delays or logistical issues faced by Nigeria were either circumstantial or unrelated to any actions taken by Libyan authorities.
However, CAF’s initial ruling has held Libya accountable, leading the federation to mount a robust legal challenge as they seek to reinstate the fixture or otherwise overturn the penalties imposed.
As the situation develops, Libya’s appeal has added another layer of complexity to the qualifying process for the 2025 AFCON.
Should the CAF Appeals Board reject Libya’s appeal, the LFF has signaled its readiness to pursue the case further by taking it to CAS.
