The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has officially appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reevaluate the penalties imposed on them following the disruption of their 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.
This appeal comes after CAF decided to grant Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 3-0 victory and fined Libya $50,000 for logistical and organizational issues that allegedly led to significant delays and inconveniences for the Nigerian team before the originally planned match in Benghazi.
The Super Eagles encountered numerous setbacks, including flight problems and over 18 hours of delays, which ultimately resulted in CAF canceling the match.
As a result of the ruling, Libya now sits at the bottom of Group D in the qualifiers, which severely impacts their chances of advancement.
A statement from CAF’s Disciplinary Board, led by Ousmane Kane, indicated that the LFF violated AFCON regulations and CAF’s disciplinary code.
In response, the LFF has reportedly hired Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to assist in their defense, claiming that the punishment is excessively harsh.
The outcome of this appeal could significantly influence the qualification standings for both Libya and Nigeria, as Nigeria now only needs one point to secure their spot in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
