CAF Announces Judgement on Super Eagles’ Airport Hostage Ordeal in Libya

• The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its verdict on the Libya vs Nigeria saga
• Libyan authorities held the Super Eagles hostage for about 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport
• The match was initially postponed after the incident was referred to CAF's disciplinary committee

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its judgment on the Libya vs Nigeria airport hostage saga nearly two weeks after the incident.

Libyan authorities held the Super Eagles hostage for about 16 hours at Al Abraq International Airport after dangerously rerouting their flight away from Benghazi.

CAF acknowledged the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF's official complaint and postponed the match pending the verdict of its ethics and disciplinary committee.

CAF’s judgement on Libya airport saga

The African football governing body held a hearing on the incident yesterday, Tuesday, October 22, 2024, during its 46th Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Read also

6 crucial points from CAF’s official statement as it fines Libya, awards points to Nigeria

The African football governing body has now announced its verdict.

"The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0)," the statement from CAF reads.

The Libya Football Federation is also ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000 within 60 days.

Libyan FA readies next action

The Libyan FA has prepared for next action in case they lose the case against Nigeria before CAF's disciplinary committee after the airport hostage saga.

Read also

Libyan official in CAF raises alarm ahead of judgment on botched AFCON qualifier vs Nigeria

The North Africans are reportedly preparing for their appeal, and are ready to go as far as the Court of Arbitration for Sports to absorb themselves of any wrongdoing.

Libya official in CAF raises alarm

YEN.com.gh reported that ahead of CAF's verdict over the botched 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Libya and Nigeria, an official from the North African country has raised the alarm.

Libyan member in the CAF Executive Committee, Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, lamented that his countrymen did not present strong evidence at the CAF hearing on the controversy-ridden match.

Al-Shalmani disclosed that over 20 people represented Nigeria in the case, with the Sports Minister and members of the parliament present at the hearing.

Source: Legit.ng