AFCON: Nigeria awarded 3-0 victory over Libya after airport stranding incident
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory over Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, following a chaotic incident that left the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles, stranded and without basic necessities for over 20 hours. The CAF disciplinary committee ruled that Libya must forfeit the match and pay a $50,000 fine due to the “inhumane treatment” of the Nigerian squad.
The incident occurred when the Nigerian team arrived in Libya for the match, only to be left at an unstaffed airport without food or water. The team was forced to return home without playing the game, which was scheduled to take place in Benghazi, 250 kilometers from their arrival location.
As a result of this decision, Nigeria now leads Group D with 10 points, four points ahead of Benin and five points ahead of Rwanda, with two matches remaining in the qualifying series. The top two teams in the group will advance to the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.
Libya, now at the bottom of Group D with a single point, has suffered a significant setback in their campaign. Unfortunately, incidents like these, where visiting teams encounter logistical issues as a form of gamesmanship, are not uncommon in African football. Teams often face delays, difficult travel routes, and inadequate facilities, which can impact the outcome of games and the overall success of teams in the competition.
