AFCON Qualifiers: CAF Awards Win to Nigeria, Fines Libya $50,000 Over Airport Incident

In a decisive ruling, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Nigeria a win in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after an incident involving the Libyan football team at the airport in Lagos. Additionally, CAF has imposed a fine of $50,000 on Libya's football association due to their role in the disturbance, underscoring the importance of sportsmanship and protocol adherence in international sports.

The incident reportedly occurred when the Libyan national team encountered complications upon their arrival in Nigeria, leading to delays and confrontations that disrupted the team’s schedule. According to CAF, the situation resulted from an administrative oversight on the part of the Libyan team, which failed to provide necessary documentation in time, causing prolonged wait times at the airport.

CAF officials emphasized that their decision to award Nigeria the victory was based on a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The CAF Disciplinary Board reviewed testimonies from both teams, airport officials, and representatives from CAF. They concluded that Libya's actions disrupted the integrity of the match and contravened CAF’s regulations governing the conduct of visiting teams in host countries."This decision underscores CAF’s commitment to fairness and ensuring that all teams adhere to established protocols," a CAF spokesperson explained. "We expect all member nations to comply with logistical requirements to promote smooth and respectful competition."In response to CAF's ruling, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed gratitude to CAF for taking swift action. An NFF spokesperson stated, “This decision reflects the high standards that CAF holds for all teams competing in the AFCON qualifiers. We appreciate CAF's support and look forward to continuing our path in the tournament with integrity.”Libya's football association, however, has expressed disappointment over the ruling, noting that the incident was an unfortunate misunderstanding. They have committed to cooperating with CAF to prevent similar occurrences in the future and to meet all logistical requirements for future games.

CAF’s decision comes as a reminder to all teams about the importance of respecting host country regulations and timelines to ensure the smooth progression of tournaments. For Nigeria, this decision advances their position in the AFCON qualifiers and brings them closer to securing a spot in the upcoming tournament, giving their fans another reason to cheer.

As the qualifiers continue, CAF’s swift response demonstrates the governing body’s commitment to upholding sportsmanship and the integrity of African football, setting a standard for discipline and respect across the sport.