Confederation of African Football said Saturday, that Libya Football Federation will cough out $50,000 fine and would also foreit the African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, which was abandoned.
This was the verdict of the CAF disciplinary board, which investigated the October 15 second leg qualifier tie billed for Beine in Benghazi, Libya. The Libyans had diverted the plane carrying the Super Eagles to an out of use airport in Al Abraq some 300km away from Benghazi and on top of that the Libyans abandoned the Super Eagles for 17 hours without food and water.
The Nigeria football Federation boycotted the match and evacuated the Super Eagles back to Nigeria.
Speaking in a statement Ousmane Kane who is CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, said the decision to award Nigeria the points was taken after findings by the disciplinary committee it set up to look into the matter, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Nigerian senior men’s football team.
Reacting to the development, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong wrote on his X page: “JUSTICE: CAF awards three points and three goals to Nigeria. Libya fined $50,000.
“Plane was diverted 300km from scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel.
“One step closer to our target AFCON 2025.”
