Breaking: CAF Slaps Libya 10M Fine, Reschedules Match Nigeria
By Lawrence Bilal Audu
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed stringent sanctions on Libya, ordering the country to pay a whopping $10 million in damages. This decision comes on the heels of a disturbing incident where the Nigerian football team was stranded at the wrong airport in Libya for 12 hours without food or water.
As part of the sanctions, Libya will no longer be allowed to host home matches in their country until 2026. The highly anticipated Nigeria vs Libya match, initially scheduled to take place in Libya, has been rescheduled to March 2025 and will now be played in Angola. This move aims to ensure the safety and well-being of visiting teams.
The Nigerian team’s ordeal began when their chartered plane was diverted to the Al Abraq Airport, approximately 200km from their intended destination of Benghazi. The team was left stranded for over 12 hours, sparking outrage and concerns about player safety.
CAF has launched a full investigation into the incident, promising to take action against those responsible. The organization has also emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all teams participating in African football competitions.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has welcomed CAF’s decision, while the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has denied any wrongdoing, citing “routine air traffic protocols” and “security checks” as the reason for the diversion. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the treatment of visiting teams in African football.
