The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially canceled the much-anticipated match between Libya and Nigeria, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday at the Benina International Stadium in Benghazi.
Match Dispute Heads to CAF Disciplinary Committee
CAF announced that the matter between the Libyan and Nigerian teams will be referred to its Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.
The committee will assess the circumstances surrounding the match cancellation, particularly focusing on the allegations made by both sides.
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CAF will make its final decision regarding the outcome of the match on October 22, during its Executive Committee meeting, set to take place in Ethiopia.
This ruling will determine the next steps, which could include rescheduling the match, awarding points to one of the teams, or even imposing sanctions depending on the findings.
Libya Slams Nigerian Refusal to Play
The Libyan Football Federation expressed its strong displeasure over Nigeria’s decision not to proceed with the game.
In a statement released on Monday, the Federation criticized Nigeria for its refusal to play and announced that it would be pursuing legal action to safeguard the national team’s interests.
According to Libya, Nigeria’s behavior during both legs of the fixture has been uncooperative.
The Federation further claimed that the Nigerian team’s treatment of Libya during the first leg was far worse than the conditions Nigeria faced in the second leg.
Libya accused Nigeria of exaggerating the situation and attached documentation of alleged mistreatment suffered by the Libyan team during the first leg, yet emphasized that the Libyan side still chose to play out of respect for the competition and CAF.
Nigeria’s Claims of Inhumane Treatment
On the other side of the dispute, the Nigerian Football Federation has raised serious concerns over the treatment of their players and staff upon arriving at the airport in Libya.
CAF described these conditions as “extremely dangerous” and noted that the Nigerian team was subjected to several hours of worrying circumstances.
Reports suggest that the Nigerian delegation was delayed for hours and experienced significant discomfort during their stay at the airport, prompting their refusal to take part in the match.
CAF has stated that it is actively communicating with both the Libyan and Nigerian authorities to get to the bottom of the incident.
Investigation and Possible Sanctions
With both nations pointing fingers, CAF’s Disciplinary Committee will need to thoroughly investigate the events to determine who is responsible for violating regulations. The committee has a range of options, including penalizing one or both sides for breaching protocol or failing to ensure the safety and well-being of their opponents.
If the allegations against Libya are confirmed, CAF could impose sanctions or fines on the Libyan Football Federation, while Nigeria may face consequences for their refusal to play. The outcome of this dispute will set an important precedent for how such conflicts are handled in the future.
