The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an ultimatum to the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) to provide documents explaining the cancellation of the 2025 AFCON qualifying Group D match against Nigeria.
This development comes after Nigeria’s Super Eagles pulled out of the game, initially scheduled for October 15.
The Nigerian team’s plane was diverted to Labraq Airport, where players were held hostage for 18 hours without access to basic necessities like the internet, food, and water. This incident sparked outrage and raised concerns about player safety.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, CAF Secretary-General Nasser Al-Suwaie confirmed that both Libyan and Nigerian associations have until October 20 to submit the required documents ¹. Al-Suwaie emphasized that the LFF has engaged a lawyer to provide evidence, hinting at potential collusion within CAF.
Al-Suwaie maintained that the Libyan Federation was not responsible for diverting the plane to Al-Abraq Airport, attributing the decision to the Libyan state. He stressed that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by all parties involved.
The cancelled match has significant implications for Group D standings. Nigeria currently tops the group, followed closely by Benin, Rwanda, and Libya ¹. The outcome of CAF’s investigation will likely impact the remaining qualifiers.
