Nigeria’s national football team celebrates their 3-0 victory over Libya during the CAF Awards match.
Nigeria has been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier after a dispute broke out between the two sides earlier this month. Nigeria’s team, which had traveled to Libya for the qualifier match, was rerouted to Bayda airport, nearly 250 kilometers from their destination, Benghazi. There, they faced a 16-hour delay without food, water, or contact from Libyan officials. In response, the Nigerian team returned home, refusing to play the match. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that Libya breached competition rules and, as punishment, awarded Nigeria three points, which puts them in a strong position to qualify for the 2025 AFCON finals. Libya, which claimed their players faced similar difficulties in Nigeria, was fined $50,000. CAF is now considering stricter regulations to prevent similar mistreatment of visiting teams, which is a prevalent issue in African football.
SOURCE: REUTERS