Libya have only ever played at three Africa Cup of Nations finals
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) will “go to the highest levels of litigation” as it seeks to overturn the sanctions imposed upon it after the national side’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria was cancelled.
The Super Eagles boycotted the match in Benghazi after their plane from Nigeria was diverted from its intended destination and their squad was stranded in an airport terminal overnight.
The days before the tie, which was scheduled for 15 October, were dominated by a deepening tit-for-tat row between the two countries.
A Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary board subsequently awarded Nigeria a 3-0 win and fined the LFF $50,000 (£38,500).
“Match points cannot be awarded in this way,” LFF acting president Abdunnaser Ahmed told BBC Sport Africa.
“It is a precedent that African football has never witnessed before.
“Whoever refrains from playing before any match is cancelled should be considered a loser.”
Caf’s decision leaves Libya on the brink of elimination from qualifying, as the Mediterranean Knights need to win both of their remaining two games in Group D and hope that opponents Benin and Rwanda fail to pick up points.
A statement from the continent’s governing body said “all further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed”, but Ahmed confirmed the LFF would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) if necessary.
“We believe that our cause is just,” he added.
“We will see Caf’s response to the appeal submitted by us and we will go to Cas. [We] will not give up our right.
“Such decisions place football officials in Africa before a new phase of dramatic scenes.”
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong described the decision by the Caf board as “justice”.
“Plane was diverted from scheduled airport even when the pilot told them he was low on fuel,” the centre-back added in a post on X., external
A ‘most unfortunate’ situation
Nigeria said no reason was given for their plane being sent to Al Abraq, about 230km (143 miles) away from Benghazi, and they were not met by an LFF representative on their arrival on 13 October.
Players posted on social media that they had been left without food, wi-fi or anywhere to sleep, and the Super Eagles squad returned to West Africa the day before the game.
Meanwhile, Libya raised complaints that their squad had received poor treatment in Nigeria ahead of the reverse fixture on 11 October, which the hosts won 1-0.
Caf stepped in and cancelled the tie in North Africa, and a disciplinary board decided that Libya had breached two articles of its disciplinary code as well as an article of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations.
The breaches related to principles of conduct, security for the organisation of matches and accommodating visiting teams.
At the time, Troost-Ekong described the treatment Nigeria received as “mind games” – but the LFF denied suggestions of foul play.
Ahmed said Caf “did not evaluate the real situation”.
“The plane’s course was changed for technical and logistical reasons related to air navigation,” he added.
Nigeria’s foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar told Newsday on the BBC World Service that the situation was “most unfortunate” and complicated by the fact Libya is split between two administrations which both claim to be the country’s legitimate rulers.
“Our team flew into a part of the country that was under the control of a government that did not have diplomatic representation in Abuja,” he said.
The 3-0 walkover means Nigeria are one victory away from reaching the 2025 Nations Cup in Morocco.
