The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has made its decision regarding the botched Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Libya and Nigeria, which was scheduled for October 15, 2024.

Libya has been found guilty of breaching several regulations and has been handed a harsh penalty.

The Nigerian team was stranded at Al-Abraq International Airport for over 12 hours after their flight from Kano was diverted without prior notification. This led to the team’s decision to boycott the match, citing concerns over their safety and well-being.

The CAF Disciplinary Board has declared the match forfeited by Libya, with Nigeria awarded a 3-0 victory. Additionally, the Libya Football Federation has been fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days.

This ruling has significant implications for the Group D standings. Nigeria remains at the top with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, while Libya is at the bottom with one point ¹. The top two teams in each group will advance to the 24-team finals in Morocco next year.

Nigeria’s team captain, William Troost-Ekong, had defended the squad’s decision to boycott the match, stating that “football is about respect, and that starts by respecting ourselves” ². The Libyan Football Federation, on the other hand, has criticized the Nigerian Football Federation for refusing to play the game.

This verdict sends a strong message about CAF’s commitment to fair play and sportsmanship. It also highlights the importance of respecting teams’ safety and well-being during international competitions.