Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, alongside Nigerian football fans, has welcomed the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling that awarded Nigeria three points and fined Libya’s Football Federation $50,000. This verdict followed the treatment of the Nigerian team ahead of their scheduled October 15, 2025, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Benghazi.
The match, which was part of Nigeria’s qualification campaign for AFCON 2025, was set to take place at the Martyrs of February Stadium. However, upon arrival, the Super Eagles faced unexpected challenges when they were diverted to Al-Abraq Airport, approximately 300 kilometers from Benghazi, and left stranded for over 20 hours without adequate food or water. The Nigeria Football Federation reported that the diversion came even after the Nigerian pilot informed airport officials of low fuel levels. The incident led Nigeria to boycott the match due to safety concerns.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board ruled in Nigeria’s favor, citing that the Libyan Football Federation breached Article 31 of the AFCON Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. The board subsequently awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory by forfeit and imposed a $50,000 fine on Libya, payable within 60 days with no option for appeal.
Troost-Ekong shared his relief on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), posting, “JUSTICE: CAF awards three points and three goals to Nigeria. Libya fined $50,000. The plane was diverted 300km from the scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel. One step closer to our target AFCON 2025.” This verdict propels Nigeria’s Super Eagles to the top of Group D with 10 points from four matches, widening their lead by four points over second-placed Benin Republic and significantly strengthening their qualification position. Libya, with only one point, has been eliminated from the AFCON race.
The incident and subsequent ruling spurred reactions from fans and commentators alike. Nigerian football enthusiast @UgwunnaEjikem commended CAF’s response, tweeting, “CAF has awarded Nigeria the 3 points with 3 goals against Libya for that absolutely horrible incident. Well done to CAF, congratulations to Nigeria.” Sports commentator Buchi Laba (@Buchi_Laba) added, “Thank you, CAF. Nigeria gets the full three points, and Libya gets fined $50,000… Hope this sends a key message to other North African countries and those supporting Libya.” Another user, @devoyceoflagos, expressed similar sentiments, celebrating the decision as a lesson for others.
This ruling positions Nigeria close to securing a spot in the AFCON 2025 tournament, with two matches left to play in the qualifiers. A win or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in their upcoming Matchday 5 encounter on November 14 in Abidjan will confirm Nigeria’s place in the AFCON finals, set to be held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026.
The controversy between the two nations has not been entirely one-sided. The Libyan Football Federation alleged that the Nigerian authorities had similarly delayed their team during the reverse fixture in Nigeria, stranding them at Port Harcourt Airport. Nonetheless, CAF’s ruling appears to resolve the dispute in Nigeria’s favor, with the Super Eagles now closer to achieving their AFCON goals.
Sources
- https://punchng.com/afcon-qualifiers-troost-ekong-celebrates-as-caf-awards-victory-to-nigeria-fines-libya/?amp
- https://businessday.ng/sports/article/troost-ekong-fans-applaud-cafs-ruling-on-botched-libya-afcon-qualifier/
