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    #AFCON2025: CAF makes a decision on the Libya vs Nigeria game

    Emma TeeBy No Comments3 Mins Read

    • #AFCON2025: CAF takes a decision on the Libya VS Nigeria encounter

    #AFCON2025: CAF makes a decision on the Libya vs Nigeria game
    #AFCON2025: CAF makes a decision on the Libya vs Nigeria game

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the postponement of the second leg match between Libya and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    The decision was communicated on October 15, 2024, the original date of the match.

    CAF’s statement highlighted that the match will not occur as scheduled, indicating, “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight. The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”

    This decision follows the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s announcement that they would forfeit the match due to delays experienced at the airport upon their arrival from Nigeria.

    The players reported that they were not in the right mindset and were physically unprepared to compete.

    Team captain William Troost-Ekong previously addressed the situation on social media, emphasizing that while football is fundamentally about respect for opponents, that respect must begin with respecting oneself and the circumstances surrounding the game.

    He said,

    12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games. I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”

    He added,

    “Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up. At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow.”

    this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued. We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football. We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.”

    However, both teams will wait for CAF’s final verdict to decide if the points will be awarded to Libya or Nigeria or if the game will be rescheduled.

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