Nigeria: CAF Suspends Nigeria-Libya AFCON Qualifier Amid Airport Controversy
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially delisted the Group D second-leg fixture of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Libya’s Mediterranean Knights, following growing controversy over the match.
The game, initially scheduled to take place in Libya at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, followed a tense first leg in Uyo, where the Super Eagles narrowly defeated Libya 1-0 with a late goal at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
However, controversy erupted after Nigerian players and officials recounted a 14-hour ordeal at a Libyan airport, which forced the team to return home. This incident raised concerns about whether the second-leg match could proceed as planned.
African Culture TV reported that Libya’s football authorities had earlier dismissed the possibility of postponing the match, insisting that their players were prepared and would play, despite Nigeria’s challenges.
However, CAF has responded to the unfolding drama by launching an investigation into the situation.
On its X handle, the African football governing body updated the list of scheduled matches for Tuesday but notably omitted the Libya-Nigeria game, signaling the fixture’s suspension.