Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce its decision on the controversial AFCON qualifying Group D match between Libya and Nigeria on Wednesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the match was originally scheduled for October 15 at the Benina Martyrs Stadium.
Reports from Libya’s Al-Ahrar Channel indicate that this announcement will address the issues faced by players during the first leg, held in Nigeria, which ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles.
The Libyan Football Federation has stated that it has submitted all necessary documentation, supported by a specialized lawyer, to the CAF regarding this matter.
Following the events surrounding the match, CAF removed the fixture from its calendar just hours before kickoff and referred the situation to its Disciplinary Committee.
In a statement, the Libyan Football Federation criticised the actions taken by Nigeria, particularly concerning their refusal to participate in the match. The Federation asserted its intention to explore all legal avenues to safeguard the interests of its national team.
The Nigerian team faced significant challenges upon their arrival in Libya, as their flight was diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, approximately three hours from Benghazi, where the match was to be held.
They were held at the airport for around 17 hours before returning home, an experience described as traumatic.
Following these events, Nigeria lodged a formal complaint with CAF, detailing their ordeal while the Libyan Federation contended that Nigeria had failed to collaborate during both legs of the matches.
CAF has characterised the situation the Nigerian team experienced in Libya as “extremely dangerous,” adding that they communicated with both Libyan and Nigerian authorities in light of the troubling circumstances reported. T
he matter is currently under investigation by CAF’s disciplinary committee to determine suitable actions against those who violated regulations.
