Libya - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Muhyideen Jimoh
Oct, Sat, 2024

Sports

AFCON qualifier: CAF fines Libya $50,000, awards Nigeria 3 points

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By Victor Okoye

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has slammed Libya with a 50,000 dollars fine and also awarded Nigeria three points from the botched Matchday 4 2025 AFCON Qualifier.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match earlier scheduled to be played between Libya and Nigeria in Benina on Oct. 15, was cancelled.

This was after Nigeria’s delegation to the qualifier slated to hold in Benghazi on Tuesday, were left stranded for over 20 hours at the airport.

The delay followed a diversion of their plane from Benghazi to Al Abaq airport, a three-hour drive away from their original destination in Benghazi where the team were held hostage without food, water or internet services.

A statement by CAF Disciplinary Board on its ruling on Saturday, signed by the chairman, Ousmane Kane, said the Disciplinary Board met and decided as follows:

“The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

“The match No. 87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October in Benghazi) declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).

“The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000.

“The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.

“All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed,” the statement said.

NAN also reports that the implication is that Nigeria is now poised to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.

With the decision, the Eagles now have 10 points from four matches, four points better than second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda have five points.

Bottom-placed Libya have only one point and are out of the running for qualification.

Victory or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Nov. 14 (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December 2025/January 2026.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Muhyideen Jimoh
Oct, Mon, 2024

Sports

Super Eagles return to Nigeria after Libyan ordeal

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Stranded Super Eagles players at the Al Abraq Airport, Libya, before returning to Nigeria.

By Muhyideen jimoh

The Super Eagles on Monday evening arrived Nigeria after their ordeal in Libya for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“We have finally returned to Nigeria, just landed in Kano’’ an exhausted Efoghe said.

NAN reports that players and officials of the team were stranded for more than 15 hours at the Al Abraq airport in Libya, ahead of their match slated for Tuesday.

“Back home safe and sound. Proud of this team, Naija Spirit can’t be broken.

“Throw at us what you want, it’s in our blood to overcome,” the team’s captain William Troost-Ekong said on his X handle.

Super Eagles forward and Bayer Leverkusen’s striker, Victor Boniface also confirmed that the team was back to Nigeria, `back to Nigeria’ he said on his X handle.

NAN reports the ValueJet chartered aircraft conveying the Super Eagles team and officials was diverted from landing at the Benghazi Airport, and redirected to land at the Al Abraq Airport.

The team and officials were subsequently left stranded at the Al Abraq Airport for more than 15 hours without food, water, and other basic supplies upon arrival on Sunday.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says it has launched an investigation into the “disturbing” treatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the Al Abraq airport in Libya.

The continental football governing body in an official statement on Monday, said it had been in contact with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities to address the issue(.NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh